All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth

And I got them!!

You know how hard it is to get a cute shot of a fat babies two front teeth? Those suckers are sharp!

And coming soon to a blog near you...
as soon as I can find the right memory card attachment...
this years Christmas crafting!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

There are no cards coming from my house this year, not even "Happy New Year" cards. :) Just plain ol' ran out of time. We had a wonderful visit to Utah to spend time with Brandon's brother, some great friends who just moved there, and my aunt. We love them all so much. And though my hub swears he doesn't want to move to Utah, we are so happy they are close enough to drive and visit. I think we are going to have to extend our Utah trips, though. So many friends to see!

We got home Christmas Eve and opened our gifts with Gram and Papa. We are exceptionally grateful to live so close to them. We were away from our families for so long. Moving home has been one of our biggest blessings. For us and our crazies.


Today we are chilling at home. Christmas Eve is about presents and Christmas is about His presence. At the dinner table we will offer our gifts to our Lord and Savior. He truly is our King and the greatest gift we have ever and will ever receive. Without our testimonies we would be lost. Truly. For it is only by His grace that we are saved.


We rejoice in His birth. We sing with the angels in proclaiming the miracle.


We wish you will feel His unending love as we have. Merry Christmas!

Eight years ago today...

We were standing in the atrium of the Portland Temple getting pictures taken before we entered the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity (backward, I know) when my wonderful, handsome, thoughtful fiance reaches in his pocket and panic flashes across his face. He'd forgotten his living ordinance recommend in his other suit.

Fortunately we knew some people in high places who were, in fact, attending the ceremony (our Bishop and Stake President) so things were put in order pretty quickly, but it has been a true example of our life. (Please ingore the tear stains on your screen.) Our marriage has been crazy, hectic, hilarious, and full of the unexpected, but through everything, the one with his head on straight has always said, "It'll work out." And it has. Three pretty difficult pregnancies, living with family twice, two summers apart, and a baseball season later, it has. Better than I could have ever imagined.

Here's to my husband. I'm more excited to be your wife today than I was eight years ago, and that's saying a lot. (wink, wink) Happy Anniversary. I love you.

Christmas present

We're about to embark on another journey to Utah, to visit Uncle Bryan/Auntie Kim/Cousin Jax. We're really looking forward to a 16-hour car trip... twice :-|.

But this gift should help because it has A/V inputs (most only have outputs) and that means we can hook up the Wii for Sterling and a movie for Hyrum (there are two separate monitors).

Merry Christmas!!

Life is crazy. Do you know how hard it is to put up Christmas decorations with a baby and a two-year old? Wait, I'm sure you do.

This year we went to the tree lot we went to last year and decided we could get a bit bigger tree than last. It seemed we had a little room to spare last year. And they are all $20 so why not go for it? Ten foot tree? Strap that puppy to the top of the van!!

We get it home and into the tree stand for temporary placement while I start putting on the lights. Uh, oops. I didn't take into account that I ran out of lights last year and had to make them stretch. Good thing my parents have gobs and gobs of lights left over from my wedding. (Coming up on EIGHT years ago!) So, a few days and a break to decorate-my in-laws-front-porch later, I finish getting the lights on the tree. I'd also been wise enough to head to Walmart and buy a bunch of unbreakable ornaments. Five years of little boys later and I finally figured out no amount of shouting will stop them from throwing pretty red balls across the house. And let me tell, that could be the wisest thing I've done all season. Because, just after we got all the lights and ornaments on the tree and Brandon was out putting up the lights on the roofline, I decide the tree needs to be relocated. Remember when I said the tree was in the base until we got it in final position? Oh, yeah, and it's ten feet tall? Well, I moved that sucker. Wait, no, I tried to move that sucker.

Here's what is sounded like. Screeeeech...crash!!! Sterling, go get dad right now! Dad! Dad!! Mom knocked the tree over!! (Slam door, Hyrum crying, "mom, why did you break the tree?")

Brandon comes in and in true blogger fashion offers to take a picture. I threatened him with his life. I was n.o.t amused.

But now, I have to admit it was highly amusing. Lesson? Don't try to move a tree by yourself.

Is it just me...

I have a friend who has the "Am I the only one..." chronicles, so I'm starting my own.

Is it just me, or do you worry and ache for your kids when they are sick? Something about having sick kids makes me realize how fragile their little lives are. I know that if their time is up I won't have any say about it, but I do fret. And snuggle. A lot. I think we both need it.

The whole story

Some of you may be totally amazed at the previously posted Albertson's deal, and while I, too, am impressed with myself I can't take all the credit. I was first turned on to the deal by thekrazycouponlady.com. I have to give credit where credit is due. Now for the full story.

Albertson's had a special where if you bought $30 worth of specific groceries you got vouchers for $15 off your next order. Yes, I'll take it! So, I scavenged online for coupons. Tons of coupons. There was not a single thing I bought that day without a coupon and I also got a voucher for a free gallon of milk with the three boxes of Frosted Mini Wheats I bought. I don't remember everything I got that day. I wish I had saved the reciept, but I know it included ten (yes 10!) boxes of Chex, Betty Crocker cake mixes, Betty Crocker Au Gratin Potatoes, Cottenelle flushable wipes, some boxes of Hamburger Helper (which had four boxtops for education per box), two five-pound bags of flour... I can't remember what else. I can remember I paid $38 for $70+ of groceries and got a coupon for a gallon of milk and $15 for my next purchase. The $15 came in increments of $5, so I was really able to take advantage of the best deals. Then came the two trips made by Brandon, and, voila, you have an amazing grocery deal!

Now, truthfully, Hamburger Helper and boxed potatoes are not something I usually buy, but I could only find so many coupons for Chex and I thought that they are pretty good food storage items, so I went for it.

If you think about it, (I really wish I'd saved that first reciept!!), I got everything I've listed plus what Brandon got for ... wait for it ... FORTY DOLLARS!! I think I did ok. Thanks to the that Krazy Coupon Lady.

Now, there are certainly blogs out there that will have crazy grocery deals for your area. Just google it! There are deals to be had. Happy saving!!