Thursday, May 15, 2014

Fall Break Project

Over Fall break we decided it was fine to rip up the carpet and replace it.  We used laminate flooring.  We debated about what to put in but ultimately, it came down to what I could afford and get done in one week.  

 We finally finished painting too and one morning I woke up to this sweet note from Dave.


 Finished product... almost
 Base boards
 All done!  This has always been my favorite room in the house and now I love it even more.  I love the simplicity of it and I love that I can escape away and relax.  It is my favorite place to read.  And it is a haven for Haylee to practice her music.  The room almost always stays clean and now it looks elegant as well!




Here are a couple videos of William talking at 22 Months

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Family Life Pictures

So... Here are some random photos of our life.

 Yes even 10 year olds need a little cuddle time.

 And daddy time

 And this is our reminder that Families are Forever.  
We have been watching construction of the Gilbert Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Here it is in September, almost complete.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Certificates

In September 2013, it became official.  I officially got my teaching certificate in Arizona.  I am working on my Masters in Early Childhood Education through Grand Canyon University.  I am excited to have this new adventure.  Working has been difficult and I have definately grown a lot this year, but it has been an adventure.  I long for the day that I can stay home with my children again, but I am grateful for my understanding of our Heavenly Father and his plan in my life.  I know it was time for me to go to work.  I know that these children I am teaching need me.  And I know that I am learning valuable life lessons about working with adults.  This has been a good opportunity.
 In September, Trent also earned his Super Nova award.  It is a very difficult award to earn in scouting.  He had to perform several projects and do research.  I have said before and I will say it again, I am thankful for the scouting program in our life.  
 Mother/Son shot!


Monday, May 12, 2014

New transportation, new chair, new friends and new messes

Soon after I started teaching full time, we discovered the need for two forms of transportation.  Dave was going to school and working two jobs and then I was working full time and we couldn't work it out anymore.  However, we also couldn't afford a new car.  So, we bought a 300 cc scooter.  Dave was a little nervous about it at first but he soon became comfortable on it.  It drives fast enough for the freeway and he wears his protective gear.
This is cute William with his new chair.

It has been a while since we have had friends.  While Dave was gone, I was overwhelmed with taking care of the kids that I didn't venture out much.  When Dave came home, that got a bit easier.  So we hosted a Luau Murder Mystery night.  It was so fun!


And here is my green smoothie detox drink... that apparently got too big for the blender.  Yuck that mess was!


Saturday, May 10, 2014

Starting Over

This school year is almost over.  My hope is that this summer I can catch up on some blogging.  We have missed many of the firsts of this school year, but here are some of the middles.

Haylee ran for Tresurer.  She had an awesome speech.  She didn't win, but I was thankful that my brother Kevin and his with Hailey came out and helped Haylee make her posters.



I took a picture of my name on the board.  This is soon after I started working and it was weird to see my name as the teacher!
 Yes that plant was from our garden.  Our zuchinni got HUGE this year.  Here he is holding up just ONE of the plants.  
 And these are just cute.
 He doesn't play the computer but he likes to pretend.


Wednesday, April 9, 2014

I may not ever...

Well I may not ever get my blog all caught up.  But in the off chance that I have a moment to blog, I would like to document some of the most important.  When the blog started in 2007, it was important to place every moment of the twin's life on here.  I wanted all of my family to see them grow.  As more of life has happened, I have enjoyed having this be a place where I could look back and remember "the good ole days".  And here I am barely able to blog once every couple of months.  But tonight as I pondered my children growing up, I felt it was important to blog some important events that really matter.
 I have an autoimmune thyroid disease.  I have know for about 10 years and when I received the initial diagnosis, the doctor's suggestion was... come back every 3 months and wait for the antibodies to kill the thyroid.  It is going to happen soon and then we can supplement for the rest of your life.  Well... here I am 10 years later and it still hasn't happened.  I recently went to a new doctor who recommended I go gluten free to reduce the antibodies.  While I have read much about this concept over the last year, I was not a believer.  However, I was desperate.  Out of desperation, change is made.  So for 3 weeks, I have been gluten free about 90% of the time (yes old habits are hard to change!) and I feel drastically better.  Do I feel normal? No, but I feel better.  So above is my portobello pizza!
 Tender Mercies!  I was one night feeling very overwhelmed by life and complaining to a friend.  She provided me with some good advice.  She said that real life isnt captured on instagram (which I do not use but the concept applies lol).  Those are just the best moments.  So the next night, I decided to set real life aside and do an improptu picnic with the kids.  It was at 720 at night because that is what time I finally got home from work after a 12 hr day.  And I captured my "instagram life".  I was thankful for this tender mercy to recognize this for what it was.  These children mean the world to me.
 This is a bittersweet year of CubScouting for us.  We finally get to be freed of these events.  Yet, these are the last moments of this time of life for Trent.  Here he is after his very last Pinewood Derby.

 What is a blog post without a few pictures of sweet William.  Here he is making his own breakfast and showing off his first real haircut!  I cannot believe he is 2 and he is amazing.  Everyday I look at him and think, Heavenly Father prepared you perfectly for this crazy life you would be born into.  And because of that insight, I love William and our Heavenly Father even more.
 Just for fun... Dave turned 35!  Woah we are getting old!!
 And another last... Trent received his Arrow of Light.  His highest Cub Scout award marked by a lot of work and dedication to scouting.  My testimony has grown of the scouting program and the bond that Trent and I have made out of the program.  I cannot believe he is here.  He has a few more months before moving onto Boy Scouts but he accomplished what he set out to do.  Once in his life, scouting was the only place that he was able to receive positive recognition because everything else in his life was so hard for him.  Scouting holds a special place in my heart and I can't believe he is moving on soon.

I wish I had a picture of the final thing to report, but I do not.  Anyway, Dave made it into Physical Therapy School!  It has been a long process with many lessons from our Father in Heaven, but we are thankful.  He starts in August and the time is going by so slowly!  
These are the best days of our life.  I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Beginnings and Ends

I started taking a quilting class.  This was my first attempt at machine quilting.  It is very hard work and I would rather pay my instructor to do the quilting part in the future :)

 I made homemade yogurt and granola
 Tomatoes and salad
 Haylee's first state project which means it was near the end of 5th grade!
 Her church class teacher treated the girls to a day as a "Daughter of a King".  She is so blessed to have great people in her life.
 The twins end of kindergarten program and the first class of Happy Valley East!


 Dave's first time using his christmas present.  Thank you mom!  That thing has saved us at least 6 times!
 My first teacher appreciation gift :)
 My tender mercy