Any Suggestions?

I can't figure out how to move my pictures, so the post is at the end of the pictures, but please read it because I need your ideas!
We went to Lagoon, we had lots of fun!

Okay, so I lack in the creative department on many levels. It's okay, I've accepted it and understand that I must look for my strengths other places.

I'm not kidding when I say I'm amazed by people who can have a vision of what a room should look like or how an outfit should be put together. They can come up with games, lessons, scrapbook pages, and gift ideas. I not only look up to these people, but I like to steal from them. I love to get people's ideas! They should impart their knowledge and share their talent because they are so lucky to have it.

I NEED GIFT IDEAS!! I know what to get for my kids, that's an easy one. I need help with adult silbings and parents. I know every person is different and not everyone would like the same thing, but I would love some great gifts you have received or given to your parents or in-laws. Are you willing to share??

I want to get an early start on Christmas. I am due just a couple weeks later and considering I already feel like I'm 9 1/2 months pregnant, I don't think I will be wanting to "hit the mall" with 2 kids in the Christmas rush.

Is anyone still there?

Hello out there, is there anyone still there? I know I have been such a terrible blogger. I don't really love to blog, but for some reason I feel like I should, perhaps I need to prove to myself I can do it like everyone else.

My long absence can be attributed to my 3rd pregnancy! For 2 months I basically laid there hoping my kids wouldn't get hungry or thirsty until the worst had passed. I am feeling much better, but it is still such a different experience than the other two. When people ask me how I feel I am quite honest and tell them I feel old and big......about 80 and 300 pounds. I am excited about this baby, SHE will be coming in January and I can't wait to prove everyone wrong about how the third baby is the hardest. Of course I know life will get more complicated, but I refuse to listen to those who laugh at me and say good luck. I've been a mother for almost 5 years now and I will do what I have always done.....tell myself "this too shall pass" when I am going through a rough moment.

Other than our news, we have been spending a lot of time with family this summer. I had two sisters who visited and we went to 7 peaks almost every week. George just started preschool and I can't wait for fall. I am done with heat. Ruby is growing up so fast. She talks like crazy and wants to go to school with George.

So for the moment I'm back and I would love to hear from you, even though I have been the worst friend ever and haven't talked to many of you all summer......I'm back.....I think.

Where's Daddy?

So after 2 1/2 months of being unemployed, Steven found and job! Yay, that is a good thing. It is basically what he was doing before, but with a different investment company. Of course after having daddy home for 2 months the kids were a little shocked when he was not there when they woke up. They both asked a couple of times where he was. Steve spent so much time with them when he wasn't working and now I have to step it up and be the one to take them to the park and outside to play. He and George were outside investigating the insects in the yard the second he got home.

As for me, it was good having my husband home for a little while......but even better to have him come home after a hard days work!

Arizona, Easter, Logan

Hey everyone, there has been a lot going on around here and I thought I would catch everyone up. Me, my mom, and my kids went to Arizona to see my sister who lives down there. It was so much fun. The Arizona weather is amazing and perfect. We caught it just at the right time before it gets hotter than you know where. Anyway, it was great to see my sister and her family and fun to get away for a while.
Easter was great too. The kids loved the easter baskets, church was wonderful and dinner at my sisters was great too. I made rolls and they actually turned out this time. On Monday Steve was offered a job! It has been about 2 months now of applying and interviewing like crazy. The job is a great opportunity and really close to what he was doing before. We are very blessed and it will be great for life to get back to normal.
We decided since the job didn't start for a couple of weeks we would go on a little family vacation since Steve wasn't able to come to Arizona with us. We went to Logan for a couple of days and the kids loved it. We went to the little zoo, Cox Honey (You can see a beehive and learn how honey is made) the Cheese Factory, the Temple, and Aggie Creamery. Of course the best part for the kids was the swimming pool. The best part for Steve and I was that most of the things we did were totally free. It is great place to go get away for a while. The canyon was beautiful too, even though it snowed most of the time.
So here are some pictures of what has been going on with us, they are totally out of order because it wouldn't let me move them around. Anyway....you get the point.

Steve and kids watching the video about making honey.
All ready to swim! Remember how exciting this way when you were a kid?

Ready for church on Easter Morning!

George fascinated with the Peacock.

Easter morning.

Eating an In-n-Out shake on the way home from AZ.

We went to the Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple. It was so good!

Ruby at my sisters playing dress up with Olivia

My sister has a pool in her backyard. Needless to say it was a daily thing even though the water was still cold!

On the way down there....they actually did pretty good for a 12 hour drive.

What I do in the morning....books.....my babies

So a couple of my friends are blogging their morning "routine" just for fun and so here is mine. Ruby and I usually wake up around 8:00-8:30. We play lay in bed and play for about a 1/2 hour. George is usually awake by 9:00. Then we eat breakfast and the kids watch Super Why while I take a shower. On Monday/Wednesday George goes to school at 10:30 and Ruby and I go walking at the mall. On the other days we usually start cleaning and playing and that is pretty much what we do the rest of the day......cleaning and playing......what a life!! I love it! I know I probably won't, okay I definitley won't be able to have such a chill morning once my kids are in school, but I'm living it up while I can!


Okay so I need some good book recommendations. I have found a new love of reading. I especially enjoy history books, which I am always reading at least one of, but ever since I read Twilight, I found I need a fiction book to escape to once in a while. I love my life and usually my days are very rewarding and fullfilling, but I have to admit that I loved escaping to Forks for a few minutes before bed everynight and I need another book that I can read and feel like I have escaped Orem, UT (no offense fellow Orem dwellers). Anyway, would all you lovely people be willing to either leave me a comment or post a few of your favorite books. I know I'm always asking for stuff (like recipes) through my blog, but I love getting feedback and seeing what everyone likes and dislikes. "Preciate cha!"
This is an old picture of George, I loved that age. We've been going through old pics/movies and it has made me nostalgic.

Present-day George with wild hair. I love that boy!
So we have this ledge all around our front room and one morning I was in the kitchen and went into check on the kids and this is what I found. My little Ruby is so brave. George never climbed on anything! We are in for an adverture!

All ready for Church, you've got to love when they both smile for a picture.
Ruby with her cute hat.

Does anyone want to know random happenings of my life?

I must admit that I dread posting things with pictures because it always takes me forever! Does it take everyone else forever to get them in the right position?

Anyway, I didn't mean to start out on a bad note. Everything is actually really great! Even though Steve was laid off a couple of weeks ago, we feel really blessed. I have had a lot of comfort through this scary time and I know everything is going to be okay. I have a great, hard-working husband who is bound to find work soon. I would take this trial over almost anything. My kids are healthy and we have plenty of food to eat and a warm house in which to eat it and so life is pretty good. George and Ruby went to the doctor today, Ruby needs to put on a little weight, she wasn't even on the chart so I'm going to try and fatten her up. George was disappointed he wasn't going to get a shot.....I know kind of weird. He told me later that he wanted to show me how he is very brave, so that made a little more sense. He is such a sweet boy, he just turned four and I can't believe how the time has gone by, he holds such a special place in my heart. I can't imagine my life without him. I don't think there is any feeling in the world to replace the love you feel for your child.

We had a great valentines day. Steve's brother had a baby so we got a baby-sitter and went to see new baby, who is seriously darling, and then we went to dinner. We ate at Fuddruckers because we had a coupon. I hadn't been there since I was 10, is was actually really good, but I hate the name.....serioulsy where did they get that?? I am becoming an advocate of weekly dates, although we hardly get to it go out every week. We try to do something fun, usually eating ice cream. We just started to watch the Lord of Rings trilogy after the kids go to bed so that should provide plenty of date time for a while.

I read the best talk, please read it if you want to be spirtually nourished, serioulsy it was so good: Neal A. Maxwell, In Him all Things Hold Together. He was truly a prophet. He had such an intelligent way of speaking.

Has anyone ever been to Greece?

Visuals:

This is George and I on the bus on the way to see the Draper Temple. The temple was beautiful and the art work throughout was amazing!

Isn't this sweet.

Here is George opening presents on his Birthday, I love his smile!

Okay, so turn your head to the side and you will see this is my attempt at a dinosaur cake!

Happy Birthday to you!

Ruby was loving the cake. It is actually the best chocolate cake. It's not my recipe so I can say that. I should post it sometime...................

What should I say.....

Okay, of course I have been trying to think of something to say about our new President. I am trying to stay positive and respectful. He, of course is a person of worth and if I may sound so cheesy, a child of God. I have tried to see him as a father and a husband and as a son. I'm sure he has some good attributes. He serves as a symbol of success to the African Americans, these are all good things. But we all know how it works, with the good Satan always throws in a little bad. Okay in this case a lot of bad. Abortion is bad, socialism is bad, stealing money to give it to someone else is bad, hanging out with unrepetent terrorists is bad.
So please, as you witness the love affair (sean hannity's line) that the world is having with Mr. President please remember that a president should be judged on his character, moral, and actions. Unfortunatley, I believe he was elected because he was black and because he promised poor people a good job, outstanding healthcare, and a dignified retirement......things he cannot give them. They of couse can only truly attain these things by themselves. I wish I could have been happy on the day of that historic inauguration. I guess what I am trying to respectfully say, is that I hope he learns a few things in office. I hope he realizes that socialism always fails, capitalism always succeeds, why people must not be deprived of their responsiblity to care for themselves, that freedom comes with a price, that their are some terrorists so evil and so dark they must not be let out into society again (GITMO), and that life is precious, a baby is a gift and miracle, not a punishment or inconveinience. Oh, how I hope he learns these things and learns them fast. Good Luck Mr. President, you are going to need it.

Very Useful Website

Okay so I don't need to tell anyone about the trashy movies that are out there. I'm a big believer of keeping bad media out of your house, your mind and your life. I have felt the effects of watching "bad"movies or t.v. shows and I have also felt the effects of not watching these things. However, I love to be entertained, nothing is more relaxing than watching a good movie after the kids go to bed....accompanied by lots of chocolate ice cream! However, I am wary about renting even PG-13 movies because some of them are totally offensive whereas others are reasonable to watch. Well I found this website www.kids-in-mind.com. It breaks down what the movie has in it in terms of sexuality, profanity, and violence. Movies that are PG-13 can range so drastically in these categories it is nice to check out which ones you are comfortable with. I also just want to say that I know everyone has their own opinions and comfort levels with movies....people can watch what they want to,.I don't want to come off like a prude, but let's face sometimes Hollywood crosses lines and I want to know which lines are being crossed before I see movie.

Update

I haven't blogged forever, I am determined this year to do better! So here is what has been happening with us. We had a wonderful christmas and holiday season. George is really starting to feel the magic that is Christmas. My cute sister Jolisa and her kids came to stay for a few weeks and it was great to spend time with them. I have to give a little tribute to my sister because I love her so much. Everytime she comes to visit, it feels like a vacation to me. Our kids love to play together and it just feels like one big happy family. My mom fell at church and broke her pelvis while Jolisa was here and she really took care ofher. She took her to the ER where they had to wait a really long time well into the night. She was such a big help and I really appreciated her during that little mishap. Jolisa is wonderfully talented and smart. She is someone I can tell anything to and I know she would love me just the same. Sisters are the best.

We went to several parties and ate more than I would like to think about right now. We saw the lights at the temple and enjoyed the Christmas decor, lights, music, and movies. The Holiday season is always gone too soon, but time seems to pass quickly these days and it will be here again before we know it. I am looking forward to what the new year holds and all the fun things I can do with the kids OUTSIDE when it is warm. George is looking longingly at the swingset and sandbox everyday.

What else has been going on.........I went to girl's night with my friends in Riverton a few days ago. I love going back to what still feels like home. It was such a blessing to be able to live there and meet the people I met. It has been great to still keep in touch with them. We have consistently held girl's night once a month and I always come away feeling so great. These women are all different and I have learned something different from each one of them. They are smart and funny and talented. We laugh and eat and talk forever! It is so comforting to know that I have friends who I can be vulnerable and open with and they still accept me. They are such great mom's too, we always have to talk about and give advice on what works with kids.

George started preschool and he is loving it. He feels like such big boy. It is bittersweet to see him growing up. Here are some pictures of our lives lately. Oh thanks for all the dinner ideas. They helped!

George on his way to preschool

Ruby and her friend Trey playing at Arctic Circle, she is a chocolatey mess!

Ruby and her cousin William

Cousin Olivia and George decorating cookies at Grandma's house

Ruby found some stickers.......

Jolisa and I on Christmas Eve

Steven and George on Christmas morning

Ruby and I on Christmas morning. She got a fruit roll up in her stocking and couldn't put it down

George and his light saber......there is no hope for my children.....they will be Star Wars nerds