Seaworld

Ben's parent's came down to visit and we went to Seaworld on Halloween! So much fun!

I have also been dabbling in hair accessories making for Emma. The results have been mixed but here is a really cute pic of her. For all of our friends that will be in Moses Lake anytime during the holidays please let us know we will be there a couple of weeks and would love to visit. Best Turkey Day wishes for everyone!

Fall...So Cal Style

Can you tell what is out of place in this picture? (I'll give you a hint, it is a type of tree...)

At a neighborhood school Harvest Festival

Our friend Michelle, thanks for inviting us!


Beautiful California! I really am thankful for for the beauty that is found here in So Cal.



Go UCLA Bruins!

Went to find some pumpkins.

Pop goes the weasel!

I want to be a cheerleader like my Auntie Julia!

Go Ichiro! We love the Mariners!

Hmmm...I wonder how this stem would taste?

Wow, they are looking in the same direction in a photo?!

Good ol' Pete's

An Austin Classic: digging in the dirt

Ridding in the wagon.

Another Classic Austin: points and says "Jet, jet"...

We really enjoyed doing so much this weekend. We went to the pumpkin patch, which was kind of hard since Austin wanted to run the whole time (and did). But we found an awesome pumpkin which we will be carving for FHE. We then went to a harvest festival and payed fun games and ate junk food.

We also had our ward boundaries change. That was really interesting to see how the ward had to first be officially disbanded. I knew that we were going to find out the re-organized boundaries in a matter of minutes but for just a split second I felt a sense of anxiety! I could only imagine not having a ward that was MY ward. I could only imagine feeling a little lost. I am grateful for wards, and that we are assigned to go to only one and not have to decide which to go to. I think that it helps us concentrate on the important things and grow in many aspects by working with what we have been given. This way we go to Sunday school to feel the Spirit not because there is a flashy teacher, or make friends with others instead of only going to church with thoes we already know.

Has anyone out there made a book from your blog? I am trying to find out more about it. Thanks!

A Challenge

Today I made home made chicken and rice soup since Ben was sick. I boiled a whole chicken a couple of days before, put it in the fridge, then skimmed off the fat. As I was picking out the bones I remembered when I thought to myself that this would be really hard to do, so I didn't do it. It is a cheap and easy way to make stock and shredded chicken meat for the freezer, not to mention a couple more meals pre-freezing. I now actually enjoy doing it and try to do prep work like this once a month.
Today we had Sis Staples from the General Relief Society Board come and visit our ward today and she spoke on somethings that I have been struggling with. One of them was scripture study. It was so neat to hear her speak, it was almost as Heavenly Father whispered in her ear exactally what I needed to hear. I spoke with her afterwards and expressed my gratitude for her being open to the spirit for revelation, and told her how scripture study was something that was difficult for me at times. She expressed how she had to just force herself to do it, because she wasn't a big reader, and enjoying it did not come naturally. We then spoke of Elder Uchtdorff's comment that eternity was not won in a sprint, and that made me realize that I really did just need to keep doing it and it would get easier. If this dear sister once struggled with this and has become the well-read and spiritual person she is today, then I could over come my aversion to scripture reading as well.
Getting back to my chicken. My scripture problem and the chicken go hand in hand. I will one day like reading the scriptures to the point that I will want to feast on them. I have made progress in the short span that I have read daily for the past month and a half, I just have to keep on going and remind myself of all the eternal benefits that are in store from this small thing.
There are many small things that may seem big, but after work and effort, this can bring us deep satisfaction, or great joy. I challenge all of my friends out there to find something; an unfinished project, something new that you have been wanting to try, or maybe something spiritual, like going to the temple more often. Take it and work toward it, and you may surprise yourself in what you can accomplish and the joy you may feel.

Figured it out...

Recently I posted about the terrible twos. I thought that Austin was being so hard because of that..little did I know that he is getting his six year molars right now!!! Yes, you read correctly. There was a week and a half that he was truely acting terrible, but now he is a lot better. They are not all the way in so I am bracing for more melt downs when they do, but I can tell you, I was very relieved that I figured it out!!! Not to say that he acts perfectly now, but the tantrums are much shorter, less in frequency, and and in degree. Poor kid, he has had all of his teeth come in early. He first had teeth come in at 3 months, by the time he was 4 months he had teeth on the top and bottom...I guess he will really be able to dig in this holiday season with all those chompers!

Shoes

So I started off the day driving to Simi Valley to go to Wal-mart since the one in Oxnard isn't that great. The kids were doing well, we went into the store to exchange some shoes. I found out there was a recall on them so went to go find others, but they didn't have half sizes. He really didn't have any shoes that fit him except for rain boots so I decided to go down to Camarillo and let the kids sleep in the car (it's a 35 min drive) to the outlets to find a pair of shoes. I went to 6 different stores till finally at the Striderite store I found some. No wonder nothing ever fit because he is a wide! SO we bought shoes for $15! I was annoyed that I paid more than $10 but I have such a hard time finding shoes that fit and after such a long day I caved. So now he has new shoes, and I guess $15 (and few $ in gas) for striderite shoes isn't too bad since full price they charge $45. I know that payless has wide widths but they never seem to have his size or ones that are comfortable for him. I went into Skechers and they were charging $45 on sale! I turned around to walk out of the store and said to Austin "I don't buy me shoes for that much!". Enough said.

P.S. Does anyone have any other suggestions for cheaper shoes for my wide width boy? I have been trying to go to second hand stores with no luck!

I love these baby bags!!!

Note I did not say diaper bags, becasue who is kidding? We don't just carry diapers around! We carry everything (including the baby-but not in the bag)! Check this out if you want to get in on this give away!!!http://lesassyseamstress.blogspot.com/

Terrible twos!

So Austin has a bad case of the terrible twos! He has a meltdown every 20 minutes or so and spends lots of time getting disciplined. Like every other parent out there I think to myself "I hope that I am doing this right!" when I am correcting him. It is hard when I tell him not to do something and he acts out by hitting his sister or me, and with such a look of defiance! He can be really great sometimes, and so much fun, but he sometimes just has major meltdowns. I ask myself, where did my little boy go? For all you mommies out there you know what I mean! Ahhhh!
(Sorry no pics, won't let me load them...)

I am sick of....

How much houses cost here!!!! To get into a house here you start with a town home that is about $300,000, but since we have a growing family we need a 3 bedroom, so that is about $350,000. Then houses that are not total fixer uppers start at $450,000.
In the next few years we want to have another baby but three bedroom apartments start at $1800, isn't that crazy! I just get so frustrated some times, it isn't like we are lazy bums, or are totally in debt. Just a loving little family looking for a place to live that has a washer and dryer, is not upstairs, and a little space outside to play in. I try to remind myself of my many blessings and to be patient to move to a place where cheaper housing is a blessing. I am indeed blessed, but just a little frustrated right now.

Sewing together

My little sewing team

We hope baby Clayton likes our burp cloths we made. The might have some crooked stitches, but they were made with love!

Ben and I are now an Aunt and an Uncle! Ben's sister Stephanie had a baby boy, so I wanted to sew some burp cloths for him. We are so excited to have little Clayton join our family! Thanks for adding to the family Justin and Stephanie! Austin just loves the sewing machine and will sit on my lap and stare in amazement while I sew away. It is really quite funny because that is not the only thing that I do that interests him. He loves make-up, lotion, combing his hair and brushing his teeth. He also likes shaving his face just like Daddy. He loves to imitate everything we do so he keeps us on our toes. I thought these pictures were fun, he is growing up way too fast!

Boots

So I told Ben the other day "I think rain boots for kids are kind of rediculous, what is the point of them...yadayadayada..." The next day I went to a department store that I had a gift certificate to and was looking in the shoe section and found these.

Austin just loved them!!! He laughed and and tried to put them on, and then didn't want to take them off. I've never seen him like that, and it was so fun. So guess what? I bought'em. Yep, even though I had just said the day earlier that I thought they were dumb. Ben thought that it was hilarious and poked fun at me, but he liked them so much! It wasn't just that he liked them but it was such a sweet innocent sort of joy that it gave him, I just had to give in.

We bought Austin a train table and train set for Christmas off Craigslist for $50, which isn't a bad deal. After reading some not so great reviews about the kind we bouhgt we took it out to try it and Austin loved it. He loves to say "tah, tah, tah, hoo-hoo" (like chugga, chugga, choo, choo). So cute. Sadly we put it away for Christmas (if we give everyting to him know what would have to look forward to at Christmas?) but he still likes to watch Thomas the train videos, and read his train books. He is such a fun, smart kid, he's a keeper.

Emma sat up all by her lonesome today! She still will not take a bottle. Here are some of the things I have tried: 1) Fresh pumped milk 2) Dr Brow and Avent bottles 3) Have Ben feed her, other people feed her, she refuses a bottle! If anyone has anyother tips I would welcome them!!!!

Here are our good friends Dan and Heather, sadly they are moving away. You will be missed!

Emma Loraine is sooo cute!

Happy Annervesary Honey! I love you, and can't wait to spend the rest of eternity with you, wait....today is a part of eternity....hmmm, I'll have to work on that : ) You are the best thing to ever happen to me, it's been a great 5 years!

Disneyland, Santa Monica Pier and other random things

We haven't posted for a while so I thought that we would update with some new pictures. Emma slept through the night for the first time last night!!! I am trying to follow some of the tips out of the book Babywise and after just one day I had my first real full night of sleep. It was wonderful. We have been up to a lot and hope that you enjoy the pictures.

Busy Bodies

Since I didn't need a flash I finally got a smile out of her (the flash scares her).

Austin had croup and rosiola at the same time! Poor buddy. Ben made this little cozy fort for him.

Austin had a ball playing in the water. I think that I need to invest in a kiddie pool.

My three most favorite people in the whole world.

We made cookies, Austin just had to wear an apron like Mom.

The Mariner's Season is upon us.



Go M's!

I love being her Mommy!

Smile!

Emma is very close to rolling over, this was taken a month ago! She still hasn't rolled over from her back to tummy, but she can roll from her tummy to back. I'm not complaining though, one mobile child is enough for now.

As we dive into this summer Austin and Emma are growing like weeds. We are enjoying watching them grow up. I now understand why people have such large families, having a baby around is so much fun (especially when you are not pregnant at the same time)!



For all stay at home Moms (SAHM) out there, I want to recommend a very uplifting and informative book by Dr. Laura called "In Praise of Stay at Home Moms". It really opened my eyes to the importance of my current occupation and emphasises how to keep your marriage strong, and you motivated to stay home and make the most of it. It made me realize something I had chosen to be a SAHM but I had not taken the step to actually enjoy it. That might sound strange but I really didn't know how to enjoy it, how to play with my kids, how to relax, and this book really helped me with that. With that said go out there and read it! It really is what the title is, you will feel like a super hero after reading it! I want to thank Ben's Mom for sending it to me, I will send it to you Steph pretty soon (when you have an address).