Hard Times and Holy Places

Wow!!! It's been awhile...life has been cRaZy around this house-so much to do and so little time! I feel like I am beginning to understand the expression "A day late and a dollar short"-that is my life! Always running behind and realizing how valuable a dollar really is and how many times you need the same dollar each day! ;) I am grateful for my awesome little family, though. The busy-ness they bring to my life makes my life rewarding. I really am so blessed!

I blogged a few months ago about Time Out For Women. It was an incredible experience that I got to share with some awesome friends from my ward. Loved it! It was there that I first heard a woman named Kris Belcher speak and I was AMAZED! The woman has been thru so much and her testimony and sense of humor are incredible! My life was changed just from hearing her speak. Among so many other things I realized while hearing her speak I became so grateful for my eyesight...such a blessing that I have honestly never thought about. I can't imagine not being able to see Casey or our kids or anything around me-what a blessing it is to see the beautiful temple and the world we live in. Since then I have bought her book as a gift for a few friends-it's called Hard Times and Holy Places. Every single time I have bought it I have wanted a copy for myself but decided to wait. Funny how meaningful a gift is when you give it to someone else and long for one for yourself. My awesome friend Erin bought it for me for my birthday...the funny thing is I had just left Seagull with 2 copies for 2 friends that very day!!! I was so grateful for it and have absolutely LOVED reading it. If any of you would like to borrow it come by and grab it-be sure to check out her blog-I added the link to my blog today. Your life will be changed also. She is a beautiful person with a beautiful testimony-a blessing to each one of us who will take the time to "know" her-someday I'd love to go to lunch with her or something. It'd probably freak her out if I showed up at her house-dang it! I'll have to be a little more subtle about my new friendship....

Turning 36 wasn't soooo bad!

I seriously have been dreading this birthday...not sure what it is...life is just going too dang fast and I would LOVE to be able to freeze time for a little while~my kids are all at fun ages and life just feels good. Busy-but good! I have to say I wasn't aware I needed a day to be loved by so many great friends-I am so blessed! I know I'm outgoing and crazy BUT being center of attention isn't my thing...HOWEVER...all the sweet simple things people did for me yesterday really meant a ton. Casey is so awesome and made the day great-roses & a dang funny card to start off the day, bbq steak & his "famous cheese fries" as the kids call them to finish it off. It really was a great day.

Jaycee, Sawyer & Madalyn licking the frosting off the candles!
My vote was 1 or 2 candles-Shay thought I needed all 36-I was grateful for all of the help to blow them out! ;)
My awesome little family-my life!!! (And cute Madalyn)

Define Popular!

Jaycee is sitting at our kitchen table eating a peanut butter sandwich WAY too close to dinner time....she says, "Mom, you know London on Zach & Cody? She is popular and she wears cute clothes."

Seriously? Never seen Zach & Cody-I guess it's time to check it out. How does my 4 year old know the word POPULAR??? I think this is the 3rd conversation we've had this week involving this word.

Happy Birthday Casey!

For Casey's birthday this year we had family over and just hung out-it was a great day! We had my parents out for Papa Murphys pizza and then Casey's family & Clint & Melinda and kids out for cake & ice cream. It was great to have a mellow day with family-we are so blessed to have eachother and to have so much support. At the end of the day Casey was grateful for such a fun birthday-I think he's awesome!

Cammi & Jaycee playing air hockey.
Hanging out and playing the wii.

I know we are missing 35 candles but 1 was much easier and who wants wax on your cake?
Shaylee and Nicalee
Silly faces-Sawyer, Jaycee, Carver & Madalyn

Company Christmas Party

Casey's company started doing their Christmas party in January-it's so much easier!!! This year it was at Wheeler Farm and they had a cowboy theme. It was catered by Goodwood (YUMMY!), we got our pics taken, and the entertainment was great. Casey works for and with great people so it's always fun to go to the party and be able to see everyone. This year Casey got Employee Of The Year....I am so proud of him! He totally deserves it (I am sure a few others deserve it also which makes it even cooler that Casey was chosen!)-he has been working long hours and going above and beyond what is expected. I miss having him around when the days get long but especially in this day I feel grateful that they are busy! I feel blessed that Casey is such a hard worker and great provider-he really takes care of our family.

Is hell REALLY that bad of a word???

I have to admit...Oh My Hell is probably my favorite thing to say. Maybe I am rebellious or something but it always makes me giggle. Can't believe I am admitting this....I've had moments when I've tried to not say it but I will probably still be saying it when I am 100. Maybe even on "the other side"....it's who I am and I think it's funny. Not sure why-can't remember when it started-not a great quality, I am sure. Joy=Coke Store and Hell...do you think this means something??

SO lastnight we were hanging out in the kitchen and Shaylee was tattling on Sawyer. Apparently on Saturday when her cute friend MaKenna was here playing (You might not want to read this Brian & Erin...sorry...you're taking your chances letting your kids play at my house! LOL) MaKenna asked Sawyer if he had ever played some game on the computer-his response was "What the hell is that?" I instantly started to laugh and couldn't stop-Sawyer put his head down and said, "It was on accident!"-and thank heavens Casey, the mature adult/dad was able to handle this...here is what he had to say:

"I wonder where you heard something like that!? Did you hear that from mom? I can just hear mom saying that all day long!"

It only made me laugh harder-Casey was laughing-I guess the teaching moment passed because our kids saw us laughing instead of taking the situation serious....Poor kids that were sent to this house to be taught and helped thru this life! Hopefully they will find examples of the right things to say in other people that are placed in their path! ;)