The Price Family

First Day of School

2010-08-12T15:24:00.005-07:00

Dawson and Emmalee started school on August 3rd. They were both pretty ecited. So far they seem to have really great Teachers. I am happy that the way Dawson's teacher runs her class seems to work well with Dawson.

Last year he was constantly losing homework, not finishing and getting distracted and unfocused all the time. He had seemed that way in years past, but I attributed it to age. Well now at 8 I knew it was more. His Dr diagnosed him with ADD. It isn't the bouncing off the walls hyper ADHD. He just has trouble focusing. Unfortunantley he got it from his Madre (Sorry Dawson).

His Dr. suggested medication. I was mixed on what to do. On one hand I knew exactly what he was going through, and meds could help. Yet I feel weird giving my 8 year old medication. It just makes me a little nervous.

Mike and I decided to modify some things and see how he does that way first. It has not been easy or gone exactly like we would want it to, but for now no meds. This teacher is very organized, and expects a lot but doesn't seem to overwhelm the kids. I am very happy so far.

Emmalee LOVES her teacher. She talks about her all the time. It is really cute. I don't know what it is about Emm, but she always seems to bond well with her tecahers. She was teacher's pet in kindy. Her tecaher alaways tol me that if she could have 30 Emmalee's in her class she would be the happiest teacher ever. I wish she would bring more of that cooperative attitude home :) She does at times.

Emmalee lost her top 2 teeth the first 2 days of school. She looks and sounds so dang cute with those missing teeth. Her teeth are so strange they NEVER go through that transitional "jiggly" stage. She just wakes up with a tooth barely hanging on for dear life. She was afraid to pull them. Mike always tricks her that he is going to just look and he wiggles them out. It doesn't even hurt her.

Here is my toothless wonder, lol

I wanted to do comparison pictures from pre-k till now of the first day of school to see how they have changed:

Emmalee pre k, Kindy, 1st grade:

Dawson Pre-K, Kindy, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade:

Pictures of our House.

2010-08-08T19:42:00.004-07:00

So we are renting for now, but we plan on being here for another year or so.

These pictures are from when we first moved in. I am almost finished decorating and will post updated pics soon. We had just moved in so I didn't get all the rooms and there is a bit of clutter :).

Here is the front of the house!

Front room/Entrance

I LOVE this little Niche:

The Kitchen, undecorated and in full use:

The stairs that I fell in love with!

View from upstairs

Loft/aka Playroom

Kids bathroom

I will post more tomorrow!

I bet you're shocked that...

2010-08-08T19:20:00.002-07:00

after almost one year I am actually posting!!! We are alive and well. Alot has happened and I have a TON of posts to catch up one. I will try and sum up some of it before then.

Last December Mike sent me a text while he was at work. It said: "What are your thoughts on moving to Tucson?". I thought "hmmmm...okay...". So I called him. He told me that he was offered the job as the head engineer at the Tucson office.

Now from that point in my life, my thoughts on Tucson involved downtown Tucson, a car wreck(no I was NOT driving, lol) and going out in the middle of now where to sight see when I was a kid. So yeah I had NEVER thought of moving there.

Still I knew that an opportunity had presented itself and I began thinking and praying about it. Shockingly the answer came very quickly for both of us. YES, we were moving to..GULP..Tucson.

We were given till mid March or Early April to move. I spent a lot of Jan and Feb house hunting, organizing, packing and helping Mike with some home improvements that our Mesa house needed. Oh and STRESSING.

I knew without a doubt that Heavenly Father wanted us accept this move. Still there were things weighing heavily on me: gettingthe house ready to rent, finding a renter, finding a house in Tucson, leaving family and friends in Mesa and uprooting my kiddos. I know in reality it isn't the most traumatic move..we are stil 2 hours from Mesa, but still it is scary when you only know a handful of people there.

In Feb Mike and I headed out on one of our many, house hunting trips. We started in East Tucson and Vail. East Tucson still had somewhat of a Tucson feel to me and I didn't like that. Some of the homes we foiund there were reasonably priced, but close to a Prison or the Ait Force bas or to not so nice areas. We looked in that are twice with no luck. I kept questsioning why we were supposed to move there.

Then the third time we went to a little town that we ha no idea how to even say. We drove into Rancho Sahuarita and I fell in love instantly. It felt like home. It is a nice little family community. It has a handful or parks, 3 pools and a water park. It has walking trails EVERYWHERE and it is 15 minutes from Tucson and seperated by miles of reservation, so no chance of becoming CITY.

From that point on thing began to roll into place. We found a house, we found renters, we finished our marathon of home improvments. It was NOT an easy time, I am glad it is over, but it was ALL worth it.

We love it here. The Ward was welcoming from the moment we walked in. I love the ward. The schools are very small and friendly. We have had so much fun and made some wonderful friends.

This last year has shown me how the Lord has a plan and we have to trust him..even when it is hard. He made a way for us and I am so thankful for it.

I am hoping that over the next month I can get caught up on the last year :)

My Brave Little Man

2009-09-18T13:58:00.003-07:00

So I can no longer be in the "None of my kid's has broken a bone club". Mike and Peyton love to wrestle. Peyton is by far our toughest kid and he has a blast. On Wednsday, Mike and Peyton were wrestling on our bed. Mike likes to lift him up and pretend to throw him on the bed. Well Peyton put his arm down the wrong way and at the wrong time and his arm broke.

Mike said "I just broke his arm!". I was in shock. We hurried and got things packed to take him to the ER. Mike had to find a replacement for mutual and I called and found someone to watch Dawson and Emmalee (THANK YOU LAURRI!!).

We went to Banner Desert. I have been there twice for children's ER visits. I have also been to a few other hospitals ER's for the kids. I LOVE Banner Desert. They have a whole ER wing just for kids. Peyton was taken back within 10 minutes.

They did X-Rays (which I will scan and add here soon). and both bones were broken a bit below the elbow. So a very old Orthopedic Dr. came to set and cast him up. His hands were shaking as he was cutting the bandage that goes under the cast. Mike and I looked at eachother a bit concerned. The Nurses gave him some light anestecia and he was knocked out, with his eyes open and he was SNORING. It was freaky looking.

The Dr set his bones back in place perfectly (even with shaky hands). He added the cast. Then Mike, the nurse and I just waited for him to wake up. He started responding a few minutes later when he heard my voice. About ten minutes later he started blowing me kisses. It melted my heart that after all that he had just went through, he would think to blow Mommy kisses. We waited a bit longer for him to recover and finally left for hm after midnight.

I was so amazed at how strong he was. He whimpered at first and I think it was more because Mike and I were freaking out. He was smiley and silly while we waited in the private ER room. He watched Spongebob (thank goodness for him!) and giggled with us. The Nurses and Dr's were amazed and called him a 'model patient". They told us that most kids w/ broken bones are hysterical and uncooperative. Not my lil' man.

Since he has been home he tells me it doesn't hurt. Infact the only time he complains about it hurting is while I am undressing/dressing him or moving him. He hasn't let him stopped him from playing or laughing or anything.

I just pray it heals quick and NEVER happens again.

Here he is settling into his room. Look at how calm he is:

Right after getting his Morphine:

Chillin' and watching Spongebob:

Waking up from the bone setting/casting:

Popsicle time:

My obsession (okay one of them).

2009-09-09T19:53:00.003-07:00

Hi my name is Patti and I am addicted to coupon shopping. I had a dry spell (lazy spell) for a while, but I am back to doing hard core coupon clipping. This last week I have spent about $400 and pratically restocked my whole pantry. It is nice to know that for the next month or two I will only need to restock on cheap stuff and buy perishables. I need to save money with Christmas coming and my Van being on it's last leg.

Mike and I have really been striving to listen to the prophet and get out of debt and try to save money. I will be honest, it is so hard. I love money, I love to spend money and I love "stuff". Usually it is stuff for the house or Mike or the kids (sometimes for myself). It is very hard for me not to spend money. I have been trying harder lately. Praying helps a lot. Setting goals helps alot too.

Mike on the other hand can keep a $20 bill in his pocket for weeks or months. I usually have to talk him into spending money. It is funny how different we are. I am thankful that we can help balance eachother out. The key is that we are trying very hard to do the finances together. For a long time it was just me and let me tell you having me do the budget is like sending a bull in the china shop. I am no good at organizing and figuring things out. So now we are making it a team effort. It has been good for us.

Anyways I have been rambling. I just wonder what are your strategies for saving money, or not spending it??

A birthday and a Baptism!

2009-09-09T19:42:00.005-07:00

August was so busy with school, Dawson's birthday and his Baptism. I can't believe that my 6 lb, 5 oz baby boy is 8 years old! It seems like just yesterday he was snuggling in my arms, now he is well over 4 feet tall. How did that happen?

I can't even describe what an incredibly spiritual experience it is to see your child get baptized. It really touches you and makes you realize how significant and important that step is in our lives. There are no words at all that can express what I felt. I did cry, alot, lol.

Here is Dawson with Mike:

Here is our happy family:

The Gospel is True!

Here are some pics from his immeadiate family, friends and family birthday party (yes he had 3 this year!). We did cupcakes and presents on his birthday. For his friend party we made pizza, had cupcakes and they played Mario Kart. Let me tell you it gets pretty crazy with a bunch of 7 and 8 year old boys under one roof. we survived and it was a lot of fun. Then we had a birthday/baptism celebration right after his baptism for our families, followed by Texas Roadhouse with Mike's parent's. It was a fun two weeks of Dawson celebrations!

School's Back in Session!

2009-08-13T20:59:00.005-07:00

School started on August 12th. This year I have 2 school bound kids. I can't believe that Emmalee is in kindergarten. She loves her teacher and class.
I took the normal first ay of school pics.

Here is Emm last year and this year:

She has grown alot!

Emm wouldn't smile for me. If she looks mad it is because I kept asking her to smile. If you know Emmalee, she is very stubborn. If she doesn't want to do something, usually she won't, lol. I think she still looks cute though! Ofcourse Peyton has to be involved too, lol.

Here are some pics from school!

Here is Dawson last year/ this year:

Dawson wouldn't let me get any pics of him at school. As sson as we were at the 3rd grade gate he was gone..you'd think he was a teenager already, lol.

I

Everything is fine

2009-07-12T00:21:00.002-07:00

For those of you who don't know, I miscarried this last week. I have been on a roller coaster of emotions, but no worries I am so much better now (atleast emotionally). This has been a hard trial, but I have been blessed to see so many blessings through it.

Almost 2 weeks ago I went in to my first OB appt. I was 10 weeks along and still feeling tired, but not nauseous. I wasn't too concerned. When my Dr did the ultrasound it was obvious right away that something as wrong. There was no heartbeat and the baby was measuring at almost 7 weeks. Not good. I was heartbroken.

I cried a lot that day, took a nap and woke up feeling better. I thought I was okay. Then the next night it hit me really bad. I cried through the night. Finally I couldn't take it anymore and I woke Mike up. I cried in his arms for a long time.

He offered to give me a blessing. I am so glad that he did. In Febuary we had been given a very strong impression that it was time for another little one. Wel the blessing assured me that we did exactly what we were supposed to. This baby was meant to be. I was given some beautiful promises that bring me so much comfort.

I am so thankful for the gospel. I am so thankful that I am sealed to my family and ALL of my children. These two blessings are the most precious possesions that I have been blessed with.

It took almost 2 weeks for it to finally happen. As luck would have it Mike had Scout Camp this week. I kept praying that it would happen before he left so that he could go. Friday it was obvious it wasn't going to happen soon enough. I asked him if he could find a way to stay home. He made some calls, but nothing was arranged. So with faith in my heart I sent him to Scout Camp, praying that he could get back soon.

Thanks to some wonderful Ladies in my ward, Mike left Saturday Morning and was back Sunday night. We had sent the older 2 kids to my mom's forthe week so I could rest and mend. So it was just Mike, Peyton and I from Monday-Friday. Heavenly Father is so perfect and blessed me that Mike would already have time off and be home for me. I am so thankful for that.

He helped me around the hosue and with Peyton. He took me out and really helped to get my mind off things. I think that this trial also happened to help Mike and I have time together. We have always had an awesome marriage, but life gets busy and we can't always make time for "us". This week gave us that time to get to bond, get to know eachother again (does that sound wierd or do you know what I mean?) and bond spiritually. I really enjoyed that part of this week.

Through the last few months I have seen how Heavenly Father prepared me for this. I was able to make changes and habits that helped me grow spiritually before this happened. I needed that added stregnth.

I am so thankful for the Gospel and I know without a doubt that the church is true. I am so thankful for all the blessings that I have been blessed with throughout my life. I know that Heavenly father loves us all and knows what is best. I also know that when times seem toughest he carries us. I have seen this in my life so many times, but especially now and when my Dad died. I am so thankful for that.

Well..................................

2009-05-30T19:22:00.002-07:00

We are at that 2 year mark (well a bit over 2 year)and so some might be wondering if we are having any more kiddos. The answer is YES!! I am not sure of my due date yet because I don't ovulate like a normal person. If I did, I would be due 1/21/10 but since the test was faint a week after I should have technichally tested, and I finally got a dark result line today, I am guessing I am due somewhere around the end of January or the begining of Febuary.

I wasn't at all worried about anything until I went to my OB to do a test there (for our insurance)and the result line was super faint after 5 minutes. My nurse scared me and mentioned that I could be miscarrying. She said I should be 6 weeks pregnant and the line should be darker.

After talking with my Dr, they decided to do a blood draw and see my levels. He said I could just ovulate later than normal because my cycle is longer. It would make sense because the ultrasound due date is always a week after the standard due date. My levels came in on Thurs at 179, which would put me at 3-4 weeks pregnant. I go back in on Monday for another draw. I have a lot of faith that the numbers are going up because yesterday I started noticing that I felt pregnant. I took a test today and the line showed up in less than a minute and it was dark. So I feel comfortable letting ya'll know that we are excitedly expecting!!

I promise now that school is out I will get crackin' and update the blog. I can stay up late and catch up finally!!

More February

2009-04-08T20:38:00.003-07:00

Also in February I was able to chaperone Dawson's fieldtrip to the Bodiology musical. It was at The Orpheum. That is such a cool theater. It has to be close to 100 years old and they updated it and still kept the beautiful victorian look to it. Dawson had a blast and for a few days I kept hearing him sing "Down...Down...Down....Down" whenenver he ate. If you ahve seen Bodiology, you know what I am talking about. Here are few pics from the trip:

The kids with Mr Slim Body (I think that was his name???)

Dawson and our group right before it started:

Procrastination is my middle name.....

2009-04-08T20:17:00.004-07:00

when it comes to blogging lately. Honestly I have been so busy with carpooling (I feel like I am always driving someone, somewhere), birthdays, field trips and well, life! So in no particular order, here is what we have been up to:

February:

We celebrated Peyton's 2nd birthday at Red Mountain Park with our family. If you know me well, you know that I am obsessed with throwing a birthday party every year for every one of my kids. I think it stems from being a December baby and having one or two real birthday parties...everyone was so busy at Christmas time and it just never happened. So every year I plan the parties out about 2 mos in advance. Well every year until this year.

About 5 days before Peyton's party I realized I hadn't planned a thing. So I quickly started putting it together. Luckily it isn't hard when it's a 2 yr old: no games and only family!!

Mike was gone alot that week for Scouts and basketball, so I wasn't able to make the cake until the day of the party. The theme was Elmo. I knew Peyton would LOVE an Elmo cake. I bought the pan, the frosting dye, made the cake and frosting. When it was time to frost, my homeade buttercream frosting wasn't stiff enough so the cake turned out looking EXTREMELY homeade. So please don't laugh, I did my best. It was perfect in Peyton's eyes and that is all that matters, right?!?!

So here are some pics from his party!

Here is my attempt at an Elmo cake:

The men!

Peyton is finally loving the swing! He used to scream and throw a fit if you went near the baby swing, but he loves the big kid swing..who woulda thought??

Here's Mommy and her Birthday Guy!

I didn't get pics of him opening gifts because we filmed it on the camcorder.

He had a blasta ndmade out good. His fave gifts were his little people tractor from Uncle Billy and Aunt Teanne and His Mac Truck (from cars) and lightening McQueen racetrack.

If you don't agree with where the stimulus money is going.....

2009-02-08T10:15:00.002-07:00

I thought this was pretty important and I had to share. If you agree with me and would rather have stimulus money go where it needs to, instead of for signs in Las Vegas, please visit this site:

HERE

I hope that Ashby doesn't mind if I qoute her message on this. It helps to see why this petition is so important:

"For those who may not know, contacting your senators and congressmen really doesn't do anything. Usually a secretary takes the call and writes your name or opinion on a list. SO....if you are opposed to the new Stimulus Bill which is aimed at stimulating the government and it's entitlement programs, then PLEASE go here and sign the petition as well as call your senators. We still have time to make our voices heard!!!"

Been a long time...Lots of pictures I will fix the pics in the morning. oops!

2009-01-05T23:46:00.005-07:00

Okay so it has been just shy of a month since I have posted. The holidays are always so crazy busy. I really hope that my slacking doesn"t keep me from remembering all the Dec happenin's.

The first thing that comes to mind is our ward Christmas party. I felt like this one had such a nice family feel and it really brought to the true spirit of Christmas to the party. Our ward did a Nativity play. It began with an angel choir which consisted of Rebecca Squires, Erin Parrot, Ashley Stone and me. Then there was a narration by Bonnie Solheim and the Nativity began. Andrew and Kristin Briggs were Mary and Joseph and Dawson and his friends Bo Tenney, Andrew Hudson and another boy were shepards and the ward missionaries and another ward member were the 3 wisemen. It was really cool. Here are some pics:

Here is our Angel Choir (totally awful pic, but all Mike could get with Peyton in his arms):

Here is Mary and Joseph, The Shepards and The wisemen:

Next on the list is our family pictures. These will be special since they are the last ones my brother Billy will be doing for a loooonggg time. He is quitting the photography buiz to focus on school in hopes of entering Medical School. It sucks but he needs to follow his heart. I will add more once I get the disc from him or an email with the rest of the pics HINT....HINT BILLY!!!

Here is what we have so far:

We also got to go to Mike's company party. It was at the Hyatt Regency in Scottsdale. I found a really nice dress and actually pulled off something semi fancy on a low budget..SCORE! We jad so much fun. We had such a fancy gourmet meal, dance a lot, and Kareoked (sp??). We also had fun watching people go crazy drunk. I am so glad I don't drink. Oh and Mike was runner up on a dance contest and he wasn't even drunk! It was a great time!

Next ofcourse was my 27th ;) Bday. Okay, Okay I am actually 31 now. Wow that sounds so weird. I do not feel one bit of 31. I still feel young and I don't know it all yet like I imagined I would by 30. My Mother in law was in town and she got us a Cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory it was soooo dang good. Mike made pot roast and it was sooo yummy. He had taken the kids out the day before to buy my gifts. Emmalee got me a super cute necklace, Dawson got me a nice watch and Mike did great and got me 2 Michael Buble CD's. He is one of my new faves! My mother in law gave me moolah which went to Bath and Body Works Semi annual sale! My mom gave me some voice lesson CD's with lots of vocal warm-ups..much needed and wanted! It was a GREAT BDAY!

Since my bday was on a Sunday, Mike had his parent's watch the monkey and he took me out. We went to Serrano's and then he took me to see Twilight for the 2nd time(his first). He like dit but thought it could have been made better (which I sooo agree). It actually perked his interest and he is thinking of reading it. We shall see. We also went shopping while we were out. I found Emmalee the cutest Christmas dress at Mervyn's closing sale. It was $50 dress and I got it for under $20!! It was nice to get out.

Christmas was a lot of fun. On Christmas Eve we got together at our house iwth my family. We had a pot luck dinner, sang some carols, opened gifts and the kids decorated sugar cookies. They had so much fun doing that. We wanted to just do gifts for the kids this year and focus more on the real meaning of Christmas. It was great. Here are some pics..I added the kids in their Christmas Eve PJ's and setting cookies out for Santa!

Christmas morning was a lot of fun. Mike and I or should I say santa had a lot of things to put together and it was fun!

This is the living room Christmas morning:

Peyton got a Big Wheel, TMX Elmo, Farmer Elmos set, playskool cars and legos! He was pretty excited to tear the wrapping paper open, though he thought his Big wheel was for Elmo at first!

Emmalee got a rose petal cottage, the sansa kid mp3 play, some barbies, little tykes camera, a boy cabbage patch she named Ethan (she reminded me for months that her CP Emma needed a brother) and ofcourse play baby stroller, carier and highchair and a bunch of stocking stuffers.

Dawson got Wall E, an MP3 player, little tykes camera, magnetix, Lego Star wars set, wii games (Lego star wars and a cra racing game) and he got his dog Bella for an early gift in Sept.

I was so prud of myself. Usually when I get Mike a big gift, I ended up blabbing i before his bday or christmas. Well not this year. I got him a new car stereo and he didn't find out till Christmas! His old one wasn't working so well anymore. He loves it! I also got him mechanic gloves and All the superman movies.

Mike got me a jewelry Armoire which is so nice. You can see it in sme of the old pics. My necklaces don't tangle anymore! He also got me a super nice sewing machine travel case! I love both gifts so much!

After Christmas we headed to St Johns to see Mike's family. We had a lot of fun sicne there was snow everywhere! The kids were constantly outside. Peyton was in love with the snow. He didn't want to go back in. The kids had slumber parties nad lots of play dates with their cousins. We also went down to Showlow to see Bedtime Stories. I highly reccomend seeing it. It was really funny and cute! I enjoyed Sandler humor in a clean movie.

Here are some pics of the snow!

Emmalee making snow angels! She wasn't happy about wearing Dawson's old snow coat!

Emm and I helping Peyton make a snow angel!

Don't you love my snow baby!!! Reminds me of a Christmas story!

Dawson making a snow angel!

Well it is late and sadly I took so long to post that I may have forgot some things. Hopefully i will remember later! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Ideas jumbling around in my head....

2008-12-11T09:14:00.003-07:00

Many of you know that I make jewelry. I used to sell a lot, but lately it just doesn't sell on Ebay and Etsy (too competitive). I have been tossing an idea around in my head for a few years and I am really wanting to do it badly now. I have been thinking about starting a little side business of doing beading parties. Not parties like Scentsy or Pampered Chef, but birthday parties. I would come and show girls how to bead a bracelet and then they would make their own. I think it would be a lot of fun and girls would love it!

I would have lots of styles, and embellisements to choose from from very basic to name bracelets. The prices would start at $10-$15 per girl for basic and end around $25 to $30 per girl for fancier or name bracelets. It would be a fun activity and I would include a goody bag for each girl.

I really want to do this but don't know how to get started, so I figured I would post it on my blog. Please share your input!!

Second I would really love to do a craft boutique. I just need to get the $$dough to get an inventory and info on craft boutiques. So if anyone knows of craft boutiques coming up with atleast a few months prep time I would love info!

The Incredible, Edible......PLAY DOUGH!

2008-12-10T14:25:00.002-07:00

Emmalee was begging for play dogh today. For some reason I remembered an episode of Jon and Kate plus 8 where she made the kids edible play dough. So I decided to make it for Emmalee. She loved it. Now it does cme out pretty sweet so you can try substituting 1C of powdered sugar(or all of it) with powdered milk. I may try that next time because it really is seriously sweet.

Emmalee loved it and was so suprised when I encouraged her to eat it!

Peanut Butter Play Dough!
Ingredients:
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
2 cups powdered sugar

Directions: Mix all ingredients in a bowl, using your hands. Dough should feel soft and pliable. Form shapes and be creative!! Storage: When not using, MUST be stored in an airtight container.

Twilight

2008-11-24T23:11:00.002-07:00

Saturday my Sister-in-law, Teanne and I went and saw Twilight together. It was a lot of fun. Ofcourse we had to go to Cafe Rio first! Teanne has NEVER been and looks like I made another Cafe Rio fan.

We had so much fun. It is kinda weird that Teanne and I have never really had a girls night out. We hang out with the family or we will have play dates with the kids, but we never went out alone before. It was so much fun and we found we had more in common than we knew. I hope we will continue having girl's nights out Teanne! I know neither of us get them enough!

We were able to find a lesser known but great theater. Sorry I cannot give the info out, because the regulars wanna keep it little known. So it was a huge relief that on a saturday there was just a group of four ahead of us an hour before the movie! So we sat and chatted about what else, but Twilight and Stephenie Meyer!

Now for my take on the Movie. I really liked it. I didn't like it as much as the book, but I did like it. I think I expected too much though. I had to remind myself how hard it had to be to write a 2 hour script out of a 500 page book. I liked most of the beginning, but thought they sped the plot up too fast, and left out some crucial things. Nothing is ever as good as reading a book though...especially Twilight!

I did love how the last half of the movie was played. I felt like the moment Edward took Bella to meet the Cullen's that he seemed like Edward and the chemistry was perfect. I think from then on the movie was like I imagined it. I LOVED the baseball scene.

I think they chose the cast very wisely. Bella and Charlie were portrayed well. Carlisle was perfect. I loved Jasper's pain look, that cracked me up. Edward was great and Alice was perfect. She had the look and the voice I imagined.

By the end of the movie I didn't want it to end. I loved how they tied the end into New Moon. I really am positive that New Moon will be way better. They will have a bigger budget and the characters are developed so no akwardness.

This is a video that gives me some hope for 4 years from now

2008-11-06T21:42:00.003-07:00

I just saw this video on faebook. I belong to a Mitt Romney 2012 group. I hope that after things get so screwed up and twisted to the left direction that people will see that we need someone like Mitt for president. He has Values and what is best for the country in his heart. He wants America the way it should be, united and holding up the constitution.

So here is the Mitt Romney 2012 video I wanted to share:

Halloween 2008

2008-11-03T23:24:00.002-07:00

I finally downloaded our Halloween pics. Last week was so busy. I had something going on everyday, sometimes quite a few times a day. I have a few more post to add due to the busy week, but that will come later.

As some of you know, Dawson is a die-hard Star Wars fan. I was a bit nervous when I asked him what he wanted to be for Halloween. His answer was General Grievous??!! My first that was "ummm...okay...why??" and then "How on earth would I manage to make that costume? It would entail a lot of time I don't have. Finally, I was able to talk him into Anikan. His costume is the only one I didn't make. Long story. He does want to be Jengo Fett (sp?) next year. I have a whole year to figure out how to do that one atleast.

Emmalee being the type that wants to follow along with Dawson on just about everything decided to be Princess Leia. I got a bunch of FREE material from a sweet lady in my ward last year and so that is why Emmalee's material isn't exactly Princess Leia'ish. It was free so it worked, lol. Emmalee could care less anyway. I just used a cloak pattern and bought an embellishment to tie it. Her hair was tricky. I tried using a styrofoam ball cut in half, with braided curtain embellisment on it, attached to a headband, but it was too heavy and looked clunky on the ehadband. So I put her hair in piggies and too small sections of hair and rolled it in to curls and pinned it in place.

I decided that Peyton would make the most adorable Yoda. Yoda was so easy. His cloak was suppose to look homeade so I did a blind cute on some folded fabric, sewed the sides together and frade all the ends. Mike has all his old draftimg stencils from school and so I found triangles. I cute smaller triangles out of cardboard and 4 just a bit larger in fabric. Then I sewed the cardboard in the fabric and somehow made a hood. It was a bit mishapen, but oh well. He only wore it for a whole 2 minutes anyway.

I had no time to make my own costume so on Halloween I went as a frazzled housewife. Mike went as a chain killer...nice, huh?? lol.

Here are the pictures of our Halloween fun!

Anakin Skywalker

Princess Leia

Attempts at taking pictures of Yoda. He is a fast little critter and a bit camera shy.

Family Randoms

We had a blast. Now I just need to get this candy out of my house. It has sabotaged my diet!

VOTE!!!

2008-10-29T21:44:00.003-07:00

Just a reminder to mail in your early ballots or vote on Tues. I just finished mine. This year I made a promise that I would get all the info before I voted. I requested an early ballot, used my cheat sheet of info and just finished. This is a very important election year in so many ways.

I have info on all the propositions. I ahve to thank Laurri Hudson for that! If you would like it, please leave your email addy in my comments (I will not display it on here I promnise..my comments do not post until I moderate them). I also want to thank randi Fielding for this wonderful blog full of info on all the judges. It helped me so much: http://azjudgesreview.blogspot.com/

For the first time I feel like I have a complete clear conscience on my knowledge of what I voted for.....well except that while I voted for McCain, he wasn't my fave. Ha ha.

The recent happenin's around here..

2008-10-20T18:05:00.002-07:00

I have found yet another hair website. I really love this one because tehre a re quite a few original ideas on it. I tried this one on sunday:

Here is the website

Here are is another hairstyle from She does hair:

Cant remember where I found this one. Don't mind the pink bow. We were just playing around with her hair that afternoon and the pink bow was the one I grabbed to finish it off:

Last Sunday while I was finishing up on Emmalee's hair, Peyton decided to help me out by dressing himself! Ofcourse when the camera came out he wasn't too happy, lol.

There was one day last week that it was cool enough to go to the park. So off we went. Peyton went crazy. Since he started walking so late, this was his first time he was free to roam the park. He enjoyed it!

Atleast a few times a week, Peyton will play so hard this happens by 6 pm:

Last week we babysat 2 of Billy and Teanne's kids, Tessa and Will. Peyton was in love with Tessa. He kept giving her kisses and wanted to be with her at all times. He even started to pretend he was a little baby too:

Oh and how can I forget the great hair massacre of 2008. My darling Emmalee decided to cut her hair. I think the idea came because I had cut her hair a week before and had mentioned that I wanted to layer the sides a bit more. She was sweet enough to try to do it herself. Now I have to find haristyles taht hide it..well atleast make it a bit more subtle. I had gone so long without having a kid do a self haircut.

Speaking of haircuts, Mike finally talked me into letting him cut Peton's hair. I was all excited until it was done. Losing his baby curls makes him look older. *sigh*.

My photographer in training:

I just thought he looked so cute in these 2!

I really have some great kids!

2008-10-19T20:50:00.003-07:00

Sometimes in the hum and drum of life I can get frustrated because they didn't do this or they didn't do this, etc. Then they do things that remind me why I love them so much. I wanted to share a few of these things with you.

Dawson
I have said it before and I will say it again, Dawson is the peacemaker of our family. He always finds ways to help or cheer others up.

Dawson was given a piggy bank with $20 in it from my brother Billy and his wife Teanne. He earned some money from us and the tooth fairy contributed a few dollars. He had enough to buy a Bakugan toy. He has been wanting one for a while. So last Saturday I told him we would go and buy one.

Emmalee was listening and wanted to go. I explained that Dawson has worked hard and saved his money and he is buying a toy with his money and that we wouldn't be buying anything else, but we would go and get ice cream afterwards. She said okay and we went.

Dawson selected his toy and Emmalee was looking sad. I was so surprised when Dawson offered to buy Emmalee a toy too. Emmalee's face lit up. I was so pleased with Dawson's generosity. It really warmed my heart to see him do something so sweet for his sister. He is the best big brother to Emmalee and Peyton.

He loves learning. He reads all the time. He takes the children's encyclopedia to bed and reads it! He shocks me when he explains to me how red blood cells work or what type of cloud is in the sky, and what it means. He gets good grades and I am so pleased with him.

Emmalee

Emmalee has so much spunk and enthusiasm in all that she does. She has a vivid imagination. I enjoy hearing the songs and stories that she makes up. She brings fun into the family.

I love how easily she makes friends everywhere we go. One thing I have noticed about her is how she doesn't judge people. She seems to love everyone. She is always telling me nice things about her friends, etc. I have never heard her say a mean thing to her friends. That is a big accomplishment for a 4 yr old girl.

She loves to help me clean and does a great job. She is a little mommy to Peyton. She has such concern for his feelings and I love that. At church she and Peyton sat in the 2 chairs in front of us for a while. I watcher her as she handed him goldfish, shared her books with him and even patted his back and put her arm around him. It made my heart so happy to see the love between them!

Peyton

Peyton is my baby in every way. He is very passionate in all that he does, from his smile to his games. Don't get started with a game of peek-a-boo, because he will not stop. You seriously have to distract him. He already has such an imagination when he plays. I ge a kick out of watching him. He is also so very affectionate. He gives the best hugs hands down. He will pat and rub your back while he is hugging. He is growing so fast (well not physically, he is my midget child, lol)emotionally and intellectually. I love this age because a new piece of him comes out almost daily.

Last night I was telling Mike how thankful I am for our kids. They fight a little, but their fights are not the awful fights you think of for brothers and sisters. Billy and I were awful, we brawled..seriously. Thankfully he is one of my best friends now. My kids are not like that. I am very lucky in that aspect.

On my worst days, the days where they will not listen or are cranky, I really try to remember these awesome little tidbits about them. It puts everything into perspective.

Prayers Were Answered!!

2008-10-06T18:49:00.002-07:00

This morning Emmalee, Peyton and I were headed to Target to get Peyton some new shoes, and then the park (since it is finally cool enough out). We got to the car, and I realized I had left my wallet and cell phone in the house. I had the kids in the car and so I closed the door and locked it. I would be back in less than a minute, but still.

I got my stuff came out and Emmalee had buckled up already. Emmalee does not know how to unbuckle. Do you see where this is going yet? I had left my keys in the ignition amd my spare keys were in my purse, which was in the car. So yeah my poor babies were locked in the car.

I felt like mother of the year! I tried to calmly coax Emmalee into trying to unbuckle. She couldn't and freaked out everytime I asked her to try again. It was very hard to keep my cool with what had happened and her screaming. If you ahve heard Emmalee scream you know what I mean.

By some small miracle, I had forgotten to lock the door to the house. I knew there was one more spare key somewherein the junk drawer or in te bedroom.. So I ransacked the house and it was no where to be seen. I looked in the junked drawer atleast 5 times and even emptied it.

I decided then to pray. I asked Heavenly Father to either help me find the other spare key or to inspire Emmalee to unbuckle her carseat. I went out again and tried to help Emmalee unbuckle and still no luck. She just screamed.

I went back in and looked in a few new places with no luck. Then the thought came to me to look in the junk drawer, again, for the 6th time. I took everything out again and low and behold there was the spare. I took it out and tried it on the driver side door and it wouldn't open. I tried on the back driver's side door and no luck. I was beyond frustrated at this point, but still praying so hard.

I went to the fron passenger door and it wouldn't open. I prayed again. When I was done I remembered Mike had told me this key was tricky. I felt like I shouldn't push the key all the way in, but instead almost all the way. Am I making sense?? I did this and.....VOILA!!!!....my door opened!! I got in a quickly thanked Heavenly Father for this small, but important miracle!

I always knew he answers us but sometimes we need the small reminders like this to tell us he is here and will help us in all aspects.

I've been tagged!

2008-10-06T18:30:00.003-07:00

8 things I am passionate about...
1 .My husband
2. My kiddos
3. The Gospel
4. Singing
5. Decorating my home
6. shopping..Mike doesn't like that one
7. Making jewelry
8. Readig

8 words or phrases I use often...
1. No!
2. I Love you
3. "Sissy-Zilla" Emm's nickname. When she was a baby and Dawson and I wuld be playing with blocks or legos e had to watch out for the destroying Sissy-Zilla and it has stuck, lol.

4. Seriously
5. Peyton, get down! (I say that more than anything)
6. Yes siree bob
7. durrrrh!
8. Whoa! Nellie!!

8 things I have learned from my past...
1. Forgive yourself of past mistakes
2. I wasn't fat in highschool, though I thought I was
3. be honest
4. Ask questions! You won't learn unless you ask.
5. Spend your money wisely! Pay with cash not credit!
6. Let your feelings be known, don't hold them in and then explode later. (still working on that one)
7. don't speed!
8. don't worry about boys in highschool. Take that time to discover who you are

8 places I would love to go see or visit...
1. Italy
2. Hawaii
3. Africa
4. East Coast
5. Canada
6. Alaska
7. Disneyland
8. France

8 things I currently need or want...
1. Money
2. More time to get things done
3. a craft room with a sewing table
4. To lose weight (I am doing it though..lost 2 lbs this week!)
5. my highlights touched-up (it has been 6 mos!)
6. To sell my jewelry in a boutique
7. to finish decorating the house (see where the money comes in)
8. our backyard finished (again where the money comes in, lol)

I tag:
Andrea
Teanne
Tiffany Hunt
Tiffany Larsen
Tiffany Dansie
Tiffany Duthie
(wow I know a lot of Tiffany's lol)
Melanie Steyskal
Terra

I am so pleased to announce that Emmalee is............

2008-09-30T12:58:00.002-07:00

READING!!!! I am in shock. I have tried to get her to sound things out at home and she refuses. When I went to pick her up at preschool her teacher came up to me and said "I wanted you to know that she is one of my fastes readers!!". She can read 3 letter words!!! I am shocked and so pleased with her!

She has an amazing preschool teacher and that is who I owe the credit to.

I found another cute hair blog!

2008-09-26T13:33:00.001-07:00

it is here
I love to have a few to get ideas for Emmalee's hair and wanted to share more with you!

The girl in a whirl....

2008-09-25T23:46:00.003-07:00

I got this off my friend Megan's blog. It is funny because I have had a few conversations with friends about how it is so easy to feel inadequate as a mom. I am somewhat A-Type personality and expect myself ( but not others) to be perfect. When I am not, which is about 95% of the time, I get hard on myself. It is funny because I don't notice others mistakes much so why am I so hard on myself?? Well when I saw this it made me laugh and realize that some of the things that I expect to be perfect are so utterly ridiculous. Enjoy, I hope it makes your day!!

The Girl in a Whirl by 'Dr. Sue' ( a.k.a.. Vickie Gunther)

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do
If you only knew how.
I study the scriptures one hour each day;
I bake,
I upholster,
I scrub,
and I pray.
I always keep all the commandments completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.
I help in their classrooms!
I sew all they wear!
I drive them to practice!
I cut all their hair!
I memorize names of the General Authorities;
I focus on things to be done by priorities.
I play the piano!
I bless with my talents!
My toilets all sparkle!
My checkbooks all balance!
Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;
I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)
I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all
I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished;
Our t-shirts are iron ed!
My toenails are polished!
Our family home evenings are always delightful;
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.
I do genealogy faithfully, too.
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;
I know all the names of each youth in my stake!
I read to my children!
I help all my neighbors!
I bless the community, too, with my labors.
I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;
My visiting teaching is done the first day!
(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.
It's the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)
I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each "lost lamb" on my Primary roll.
I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all .
I write in my journal!
I sing in the choir!
Each day, I write "thank you's" to those I admire.
My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!
My kids get straight A's!
And their bedrooms are clean!
I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.
I go to the temple at least once a week;
I change the car's tires!
I fix the sinks leak!
I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.
I make sure I rotate our two-years' supply;
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!
These things are not hard; 'tis good if you do them;
You can if you try!
Just set goals and pursue them!
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!
It's easy!" she said
and then she dropped dead.

Got this from my friend Amy's blog

2008-09-25T23:28:00.002-07:00

4 movies I can watch more than once:
*Hairspray
*Can't Buy Me Love
*Tommy Boy
*Music and Lyrics

4 t.v. shows I watch:
* ER
* House
* Friends
* CSI LV

4 places I've been
*Utah
*California
*Nevada
*Mexico
(sadly that is all the places I have been except I have been to the border of AZ/NM and set foot in NM!! lol) sad I know)

4 favorite foods:
* mexican food
* Japaneese food
*Italian
* Cheesecake Factory Chopped Salads..YUM!

4 places I would like to visit:
* Italy
* England
* France
*Hawaii

4 things I look forward to in the next year
* Twilight Movie!!
* Getting my new cellphone next month. Mine will not hold a charge longer than 1 minute and I am not joking.
*Seeing the kids open thei Chistmas Presents
*Basketball season..GO SUNS!

If anyone wants in on this tag go for it...

Scentsy Party

2008-09-20T16:51:00.002-07:00

I am having a Scentsy Party on Friday 9/26 from 7-9 pm. If you are interested, Please email me at thepriceisright77@gmail.com and I will give you additional info. If you can't come but are interested, or if you are just bored, lol, you can learn more about the Scentsy Products here

I LOVE Scentsy products. I don't have to worry about matches, fire hazards, lead, etc. I just get to enjoy the yummy scents that fill my house!

Lots of fun playdates..involving water.

2008-09-18T23:22:00.003-07:00

On Monday I met up with my friend Melanie at Costa Vida. We had a lot of fun talking and our kids had a blast too. Emmalee and Jaden are weeks apart and so they had so much fun. After we were finished, we went out an dlet the kids stand by the fountain..well they did not want to stand by it. They were so fascinated that one by one they bagan to get in it. After they were wet, and we were laughing so hard that we let them stay in it for a few minutes. We got looks, but the kids were already wet and we decided to let them have their fun.

Then today we met up with my frind Megan and her daughter Kierra and had some more Costa Vida and then went to Espee Splash Park. The kids had so much fun. They were so spastic and busy that I could not get very good pictures though..oh well :) Emmalee LOVES Kierra and gets so sad when she has to say goodbye to her.

I also had to ad pictures from our ward's mother/daughter activity last week. They did a whole night on household activities like folding and sorting laundry, sewing on a button (for the younger girls), making cookies and cleaning. They had a musical housecleaning activity where the girls had to "clean" until the music stopped nad then switch leaning tools and start again. I am sure that all the moms' were thinking the same thing I was "why can't she be this enthuisiastic when I ask ehr to help me clean at home". It was so cute though. When they were sewing buttons the sister teaching them told them they were all so good at sewing on buttons that she was going to have them all come to her house and sew all her buttons. Emmalee looked at me so serious and said, "Mommy, I don't know where she lives and I can't sew buttons very well". It was so funny to see how serious she was.

Randi, Olivia and Lily

Table Manners class. They had them all draw where the plate, napkin, silverware and glass go.

Here are a few Peyton Sillies!

Peyton loves our kitties. Tallie always loves going to sleep with peyton (I think she is crazy, it is just a chance to get man-handled, but whatever floats her boat!)

HOW TO START EACH DAY WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK

2008-09-18T23:22:00.000-07:00

Thank You Megan..I LOVE this!

1. Open a new file in your computer.
2. Name it 'Barack Obama'.
3. Send it to the Recycle Bin.
4. Empty the Recycle Bin.
5. Your PC will ask you: 'Do you really want to get rid of 'Barack Obama?'
6. Firmly Click 'Yes.'
7. Feel better?

GOOD! - Tomorrow we'll do Nancy Pelosi!

Emmalee's preschool pictures!

2008-09-17T15:37:00.004-07:00

Her class took pictures yesterday. I can't belive how tall my little girl is!

This one deserved it's own post. Warning NOT for the squeemish!

2008-09-06T21:12:00.002-07:00

This is Bella or Belle as Dawson calls her. She is a very sweet Border Collie. We bought her from my sister-in-law Kayleen's Grandpa, Tex. She was so sweet we chose her right away. Then headed home from St Johns.

Just for the record I did not name her Bella because of my obsession, lol, with twilight. Her name was Belle before we got her. Then Mike said he liked Bella better and I did too. So while Dawson still calls her Belle, we call her Bella.

Well we passed the chapel and were just past the hill out of town when Mike looked back. Bella was on the back set, well on top of it between Emmalee and Dawson. Mike says, "Oh Crap". I look back and Bella was hurling!

We pull over nad grab paper towels and clorox wipes from the back. Mike starts to clean and just couldn't do it. Suddenly he starts throwing up. What a wimp! So I start cleaning and thought I got it all. We drove back to St Johns and bought Febreeze and air freshener and sprayed a lot. We out a blanket down and she threw up 2 more times in a contained area on the blanket. I could handle that. We made lots of stops to get fresh air and to let her calm down and feel better. The whole way home she looked at us with those choclate eyes as if to say "I am so sorry!".

Then outside of Payson out tent and play pen fall off the luggage rack and comitted suicide. Well the play pen did anyway. The pad was all cracked and so it was a throw away. I found a nice playpen at Toys r us. It was on clearance. It was originally $179 and I got it for $70 with a protection plan so if the netting rips (which I hadve experienced twice) they will replace it.

Okay so fast forward we are home aorund midnight. we unload everything and take Emm's carseat out because it got some throw up on the back of it. I had cleaned it off but decided t wash the cover just in case any had gotten on it. Well we got it out and look and (behind Emm's carseat only) the whole back of the seat was covered in dog throw up. I wanted to just run away or leave the van on the side of the road.

We ended up taking the seat out, hosing it, oxy cleaning it and using the steam cleaner on it. Then Mike decided to just shampoo all the seats and floor of my van. I detailed everything and now my van is the cleanest it has been in 3 years. I love it!

Camping

2008-09-06T20:42:00.005-07:00

Last week we went on our annual Day Family reunion campout. I think this was one of the best years. It was so green and beautiful and tehre were actually elk there again. Mike and I went on a few 4 wheeler rides and saw over 20 elk on one of them. That is the most we have seen in about 5 years! I finally got pretty brave dring the 4 wheeler. Mike had to get me to slow down. What can I say I was having fun! I can't wait till we get our own! Or till we each get our own, ha ha. Long time away!

The kids had so much fun despite all the rain. They didn't let anythings stop them! They love their cousins. It is crazy to see how big all the kids our getting. My oldest nephew is 12! Not sure how that happened, lol.

Peyton had so much fun and got so dirty! He loved playing with the older kids and I swear that boy thinks he is 5!

The older kids took ropes from the trailer and they magicaly became mouse tails. They played this almost the whole campout, lol. Some of the older boys were "Cats" and tried to pull their tails off, lol.

St Johns

2008-09-06T20:38:00.004-07:00

So while we were up in St Johns we took the kids on a picnic at the park. Here are some pics:

I loved these of my boys! Dawson is the best big brother and is always helping and playing with Peyton.

More..more..more.....

2008-09-06T20:12:00.005-07:00

Two weeks ago we went up to St Johns for Mike's Grandpa Day's funeral. It was so sad, especially seeing his poor broken hearte Grandma. I cannot even imagine losing your best friend and husband. Still, with all the sadness, it always makes me so grateful for the Gospel. I have such a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and all that he has done for us. I am so thankful that families are forever. I know that we will be with are loved ons again someday.

Even with all the sadness, it was nice to be with all of Mike's huge family. They are all such great people from boh sides of his family. I have wonderful inlaws, and fun sister's in law and on the Price side the best cousin's in law. I love them all! They are like cousin's I never had. I am thankful to be a part of their family. I am so glad my kids have SO many cousins to play with. They played hard while we were there too!

Here are some pictures of The Price Family at the Funeral Luncheon. We also took a picture of everyone in the Francis Day Family. I was suprised that we fit everyone in it! I am waiting to get them from Mike's cousin.

Been Busy

2008-08-22T10:16:00.003-07:00

I feel bad last week was crazy and I totally forgot to post about Dawson's Birhday Party and Emmee's first day of school. So without further delay, Emmalee's first day of school:

I confess these are actually pics of the second day of school. My camera died, because I forgot to charge it and there was no time to charge it even a teeny bit. Luckily my friend Ashley took some at the preschool of Emmalee and her son. I just need to get them from her.

Emmalee woke up on her owna nd was so excited about going to school. When I asked her how she wanted her hair doen, she said she wanted to wear it down because she is a big girl, lol. I am so excited at how curly it is getting. I know double standard since I always covet straight hair and flat iron mine straight, but on her it is so cute! She has the right face for it. Plus she doesn't have poodle curls like I do.

We drove to Preschool and as I was helping her out of the car she looked scared and nervous. I told her she would be okay and that she was going to have so much fun. We walked out and she saw her friends Cameron and Damon and she was fine. She was still shy, which is weird, my daughter is not shy. When I picked her up she talked the whole way home about how fun it was. She got to pla instruments and her favorite was the triangle and they ate Fishies, lol. She loved it and is excited everyday she goes.

Her teacher, my friend Kristina's mom, is awesome. She used to teach at Dawson's school. One of my best friend's, Lindsay's son had her in first garade. She raved about how awesome she is and said she is the best teacher her son has had so far. She is very sweet and the kids love her. I am anxious to see how far Emmalee will go. They will be learning letter blends and even reading and math! I am hoping Emmalee can get the teacher I wnat her to hve for kindergarten next year.

NOw on to Dawosn's BIrthday Party!!

I cannot believe that he is 7!! Not sure where the time went, but all of a sudden I have a 2nd grader obsessed with Star Wars. So naturally he wanted a Star Wars movie party.

Dawsons first day of Second Grade

2008-08-11T12:26:00.002-07:00

Well my Big Boy is a second grader! It seems like yesterday he started preschool and now 2nd grade. Where has the time gone?? He ill be 7 on Wednsday!! We went to his open house on Saturday and met his tecaher and I totally love her. Emmalee's preschool teacher used to teach at his school and so I can get the heads up on all the teachers that have worked there since she did. From the class he was in last year, I was worried he was going to get a teacher I was warned I wouldn't want him to have so I was pleased when I saw he didn't get her. His new teacher seems really fun and spunky and totally sweet. I liked her after talking to her for less than a minute. I asked Emmalee's teacher about her and she said that she is a wonderful teacher so I feel good.

Dawson was so excited to start school. The last 2 weeks I noticed he was getting bored at home. I asked him what he was most excited about and he said being upstairs this year, seeing his friends and recess, lol.

He has late bus this year so we can wake up at 7 instead of six! For a mom who isn't a morning person this will be nice. I woke Dawson up at 7 and told him after he was showered and dressed to wake me up. I expected him to wake me up at 7:20 or something. He must have been reallye xicted because he woke me up at 7:09 and he was completly ready for school. I wish he would be that quick all the time. Usually he operates on snail time for everything.

Last night Mike gave Dawson and Emmalee their Father's Blessings for the school year. Dawson told Emmalee to get in the chair first. He sat down by me and said "Since this is Sissy's firt year of school, I am letting her go first!" I thought that was so sweet. Then Mike cut his hair, he went to bed and couldn't fall asleep till 10:30 because he was so excited.

Here are some pictures. I am doing a comparison of this year and last year (Last year first):

2008-08-05T00:22:00.002-07:00

I just finished this tonight. I won't embellish since not everyone has finished, but Stephenie Meyer is amazing and a genius in her writing! I loved it and am sad it is the last one (besides Midnight Sun..Edward's perspective) but the last one from Bella's acocunt. One less countdown and now just teh countdown to The Twilight Movie. I can't wait!

Well it took long enough, but...

2008-07-24T00:52:00.003-07:00

Peyton is FINALLY walking! Holy cow I thought this kid would never walk. He has been taking a step or two when I make him for months but nothing else. Well a few days before he turned `17 mos, he finally got the courage to let go and walk. I am so happy. I was sick of people saying "He is 1 and not walking", "I know kids that didn't walk till nearly 2", etc, etc..I could go on. It is a bit weird, I am so used to him crawling and he is so small that it is too cute! I will post video tomorrow.

Dawson and Emmalee are with the inlaws. They left Sunday night and will be back next Monday night. I miss them, but it has been nice just being having Mr Peyton and I alone. He usually wants nothing to do with me because obviously Big Brother and Sister are way more fun. So this week he is being cordial (lol) and giving Mommy a chance. It has been a lot of fun and reminds me of when I only had 1 and life in some ways was easier. Still I never realized how much my kids help with him. He has gotten into more things this week than ever before. Oh well. I am enjoying my vacation.

Mike and I had planned on going up Thursday night for the 24th, but we decided to stay in town. he is still taking Friday off and we plan on getting out with Peyton during the day and going out on a much needed date that night. I am really looking frward to that!

Well since it is 1 am, I guess I should go to bed.

'nite!

Hi My name is Patti and I am a Shopaholic

2008-07-22T23:45:00.007-07:00

Okay so I am not super horrible. I don't spend hundreds of dollars or put my family in huge debt, but yes I love nice things and I love to shop. I am very frugal when I shop, but it is a weakness. I just feel that with recent events *gas prices* *cough, Cough*, Emmalee starting preschool and all other prices going up because of gas prices, that I need to lay low when it comes to shopping for a while. I just need more will power. Any will power or money saving tips would be great.

I thought I would share ours too.

1. Coupons: I am a huge believer in coupons. On a good month I can spend under $400 a month for everything (sometimes lower).

I use

Couponsense

It is worth the money. Saving $300-$600 (that was a great month!) a month on groceries, pays for the $15 a month plus cost of papers. I get so much free and under $1 things that I have a rotating year supply. Plus with expert shopper and their coupon file system it saves a ton of time! It is great!

2. Mike cuts his and Dawson's hair himself (picked it up on his mission) and Emmalee and I go to a girl in my ward that only charges $10/haircut!

3. Clearance shop for kids clothes. I get lucky and run into great clearances all the time. I buy under $3 pieces of clothing all the time to stock up the kids wardrobe. I went to Old Navy last night. They had a killer sale. I bought $300 worth of clothes for $60!!

4. Dilute the kids juice

5. I try to run farther away errands when Mike gets home since his car gets better gas.

6. Craigslist and freecycle..enough said!

I know I have more but I cannot think of them now.

I want your tips for saving money, budgeting and sticking to a budget!

Really Fun idea!

2008-07-19T23:41:00.001-07:00

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.

I did it, I chopped my hair

2008-07-19T23:38:00.002-07:00

I chopped close to 12 inches. With curly hair it didn't look nearly as long as it really was. I am still gonna do the back a bit shorter, somewhat like Kherrington on So You think you can dane, but not quite so dramatic. Anyways it feels great and I love wearing it straight!

New pics of my babies!

2008-07-18T23:22:00.004-07:00

These are a few of the pics my talented brother Billy took of my kids today. I can't wait to get the rest. My brother is so talented and each time he takes pics of my kids I can see how much he has improved from the last time. If you like what you see he has a website LIFESLIDES. He does, kids, family, wedding, etc.

Amazed!

2008-07-08T23:38:00.003-07:00

Well some of you may know that Peyton has been the ear infection king this year, I think it is 5 since January now. I have never experienced this with my other kids. At the most they each had one or 2. Well last week Peyton started fevering lightly, lost his appetite and was continually tugging his ear and said "owie, owie,a few times. Sadly I know when he has an ear infection now.

Well this started on Tuesday of last week. He was worse by evening and by Wednsday he didn't want to eat at all and had become a royal Grumpuss Von Puffy-Bottom. So I decided that I would take him into the Dr the next day. I debated and knew since I had no idea what time I would get in and how he would be tomorrow that Activity Days for the next day, would need to be cancelled. I also dreaded the Dr because she warned me if he had another infection, we would have to talk tubes (not excited on the idea of my 16 month old having surgery).

I called my Primary Pres, her daughter is my clas prez, to let her know that they didn't need to call the girls about the next day because I had to cancel. I told her what was going on and how this was atleast his 5th since January.

She told me that one of her sons had 6 infectins in a 6 month time span and their Dr was talking tubes too. So they decided to try a Chiropractor and after a few adjustments he never had an ear infection again. I was intrigued.

I caled a Chiro who used to be in our ward. I got him in the next day. He explained how a misaligned neck can cause the drainage to pool in his ear (yuck). He said that it wouldn't be an overnight fix but that it works. He does this for his kids and his dad did it for him as a kid and it really does work.

So he did a quick neck adjustment. Peyton did not like it since he was confined by his hands and mine holding him down with his arms. It was a bit freaky watching but I reminded myself that he knew what he was doing.

That night he was still a bit fussy and feverish (the fevers were up to 103). I knew he wa sstill sick but he slept way better that night and within 3 days he had no fevers and was feeling so much better. I am taking him in for a second adjustment tomorrow and hopefully this will eliminate his ear infections. This poor kid has been on way too many antibiotics in his short life between ear infections, thrush and his clogged tear duct when he was a newbie. So I was happy to try an alternative. I am not against antibiotics, but if something else can eliminate the problem (I have talked to people it has worked for) I am happy to try it. I am amazed and happy with the results.

He did lose a pound while sick, he is 18 lbs 4 oz. It is hard enough to get this kid to eat well, but when he is sick it is next to impossible. Luckily he did drink lots of milk and other fluids. He still isn't walking, I hope soon though. He can take stpes but chooses not to unless I make him.

I am getting concerned about his weight and am dreading his next Dr visit. Our pedi had suggested adding fattier foods to his diet. Or another translation empty calories, which I am not a fan of doing. I don't want to feed him sausage and butter and heavy things all the time. Who wants to clog their baby's arteries?? Besides that he doesn't eat alot as it is.

These growth charts are so annoying. I mean how accurate it is to compare their size to 100 random kids. They don't factor in genetics or different growth patterns or anything. I find it funny that they have all these campaigns about not feeding your kids junk or hight fat foods, but yet I am told to feed him all these things. Weird isn't

My friend Tiffany has a little boy Peyton's age who is also in the small for his age and walking late club (he is walking now though). She started giving him relive for kids powder in his milk. It isn't high in fat or anything but has all the nutrition other foods are lacking. HE has gained a pound in a month and is getting lots of muscle tone and looks great. He looked adorable before too, but you can tell he has some padding now. I am going to try the Relive on Peyton. I really hope that it helps, because I swear the Dr made me feel like she thinks I am not trying hard to help him gain weight. I am but you can't force feed a 1 yr old that's for sure. Anyways wish Peyton luck.

Look what my wonderful hubby got me!!

2008-07-07T23:55:00.002-07:00

I had been wanting a Dyson forever. Once I used my sister in law, Teanne's I had to have one. I have all wood floors, rugs, 2 cats, a dog and my 3 kids, plus I am anal about clean floors. So I am sweeping and vacuuming a lot. It takes a lot of time, to sweep, vacuum and swiffer. On our budget it was hard to save for a Dyson and then I saw this one

Infinty

I reviewed and hoped it would work well. I kept complaining about our old vacuum. It hardlyw orked anymore and it wouldn't stand upright anymore. Mike used it this weekend prepping the rugs for shampooing and he finally saw that I was not exagerrating about how much it sucked just to get a new vacuum. So he said that when he got paid on monday for a side job we would go get it!

I LOVE it. It sucked everything up, even at teh side of the walls. My old vacuum would just blow things around on the wood floors. This doesn't. It worked as well as thge Dyson and has a 5 yr warranty. I LOVE IT and would reccomend it.

A blog I had to share!

2008-07-03T00:04:00.004-07:00

So I was blog hopping one day and came across the coolest blog Hair Today
I wish I had aken pics of some of the "do's" I have done on Emmee. I will try to remember. Lately though we swim so much that I rarely do her hair except on Sunday's.

I just wanted to share it with everyone!

26 lbs lost so far

2008-06-30T23:32:00.002-07:00

I have a looong way to go but I am so happy to say that I have lost 26 lbs! I can feel it in my clothes, but not much else. I just need to keep my motivation going It can be so hard sometimes. I know this is a shocker, but I LOVE food. My illpower can diminish when I see a piece of pizza or anything and everything that is chocolate..well except dark chocolate disgusting!). I am hitting that point now and although I have been losing I know that I don't have my whole heart in it like I did last time. I realized that last time I made posts about all my goals and updates. I know I need to do that again. So I decided to make a few goals nd post why I am losing the weight.

Goals

1. To lose 5 lbs by August 5th

2 to find some kind of exercise that I can comfortably do with my heal spurs. I guess I haven't wrote about that. Well over the last year I have had foot ain that started tolerable, but annoying and ha become excrutiating. Getting out of bed,exercise or walking for long periods of time just kill them and tehy can hurt for days from it. It got so bad that they hurt all the time now, bu getting up from sitting kills. Well one morning my sweet Peyton ( who has been having toruble sleeping through the night lately) woke up for the 5th time at 6 am. My feet hurt so bad I yelp. I tried to walk to his crib. I pretty much was planning on crawling to his crib. Mike woke up and made me get back in bed and he tended to Peyton (I love him!). Then told me that I better make a Dr appt tomorrow. He had been begging me to for so long. I figured it as my weight and as I lost weight it would get better. WRONG! It ahs gottenworse since I have been losing weight. I finally went to the Dr. and she was 95% sure it was heel spurs. A hel spur is when a calcium build-up attaches to the arcand heel. and it hurts like a son of a gun! Well I had X-rays, blood work. The DR never called back. I called once and she was out (day off) another Dr called and said she would call me on monday. She didn't. She gave me a strong NSAID for the pain and it helps, but doesn't take all the pain away. I don't want to take pain killers all my life, I want to get rid of the problem. So I will be calling her again tomorrow. Anyways so exercising has been difficult.

3. To write down all my points and not just track them in my head.
4. More fruits and vegges and less diet coke
5 way more water

Those are simple goals for now.

My reasons for losing weight are

1. For me. I do no feel like me right now. I used to love hiking and biking and all. I love clothes an dlooking nice.

2. To lower my risk of diabetes

3. For my family. I miss playing on the playground with my kid and being teh fun active mom I was 2 years ago. To look good for Mike too.

Those are the most important goals right now.

I hope in a few months I can have nother 25 lbs lost!!

here is a pic in Dec and one from last week. Now you can't completely compare because one is a head shot, but you can atleast tell in my face.

Jan 2008

June 2008

Bankrupt!

2008-06-27T13:15:00.002-07:00

That is what we will be because of this boy!

He lost his first tooth last Saturday and a second on Tuesday! Dawson is almost 7. All of his friends had lost their first tooth at 5 or barely 6, so he was gettin extremely anty about losing a tooth. He was showing Mike how lose itwas saturday and Mike felt it and it just came out! He happily put his tooth in a glass of water (the tooth fairy is afraid of waking kids if the tooth is under a pillow at our house). The next day he got a gold dollar coin. Yesterday I was thinking how cute he looked with 2 gaps in his mouth and I noticed that the teeth ar already coming thru! My boy is getting so big!

Okay I am a picture slacker!

2008-06-23T15:14:00.004-07:00

I have a million pictures that I have been meaning to post, but I kept putting it off. I just have been so busy with swimming lessons, playdates, etc.

The kids have been taking swimming lessons with Elizabeth Hutzler, my friend Rebecca Squire's lil sis. The first week was awful. My kids were terrified of the water and the mean Mommy I was, I pushed them in. There are some things that I won't make my kids do, but learning to swim is something that they have to do. By the next week, they were going in on their own and no screaming. Yipee!

The last week they had made so much progress that I signed them up for another session. Dawson can actually get some distance when he swims and is getting some good form for swimming and diving. Emmalee can float, lol. She knows what to do but for some reason when she jumps in she panics and freezes. There are times that she will show us what she's got and does wonderful. I can't wait to see how much progress they make by the end of this session. Elizabeth is a great teacher and she is great about not giving in when they don't want to try something. That is so important for learning to swim.

Peyton enjoys playing in the pool while they learn. He is my little fish. I really need to get him out in the water more so next year lesson's won't be freaky with him.

A few weeks ago some friends in my ward and I took the kids to the new San Tan Mall, to play at the water park. Thank you Amy for the suggestion. It is great. It is an outside mall, I know what you're thinking..'an outside mall in AZ are you crazy??'. but it will be nice to shop at in the winter. They have a splach park in the middle courtyard area. The kids had so much fun. We have t go back again. It takes a tank of gas to get there, but atleast there is no admission, right?? lol

These pics are from when we went to St John's. This is all the cousin's at the time, except the oldest cousin Brandon. He was out with friends. Now however there are 2 new boy cousins. Travis and Kevin just had babies. They are adorable. In October Amber will be having a bay boy. All these baby cousin's is so exciting. My Brother Billy and his wife Teanne will be having a baby girl any day now too. Keep them coming, so I can enjoy your babies. I am in no way ready for #4!! lol

here they are having a slumber part at Nana and Pap Price's house!

Last weekend we went to a dback game. Someone at Mike's office gave the seats to us. They were on the bottom level in the bleachers. I am not sure why but we always get lucky and get lower level seats for free. I love it! The kids had fun. Right around the bottom of the 5th inning I was sitting there enjoying the game and suddenly I was drench with BEER! Yes you heard right beer. Someone from the upper level spilt beer and it happened to land on our aisle! Mike the kids and my neighbor Betsy got a tiny bit wet so did a few on the other side of us. Peyton and I got the worst of it. It was pretty nasty. There was areally nice, huge group of people from Payson that sat by us and they were giving us napkins to clean and one of them went to complain and kept reitterating that it landed on a family with young kids. They went and took care of the people who did it and apologized. I had been talking to the lady sitting next to us and she asked if we were LDS. I told her yes. So when the Beer incident happened, she turned and said "ofcourse the beer would have to land on the sweet little LDS family", lol. We got over it and had a good time.

Here is a picture of my primate wannababy as Haley calls it. He climbs on everything! He thinks he is too cool, but it scares me to death. Oh and the clincher...he is 16 mos, and can climb on everything, but he will not walk. He has started taking about 4 steps at a time and standing on his own. He so could walk if he would just do it but he isstubborn Price, lol. He also loves to make anything such as a stool or basket, a car! He also loves talking on the phone! I love my little guy!

Well i think that is it for now. I will definetly have more soon, lol.

Okay here is a bit on all my friends in my list!

2008-06-21T01:20:00.003-07:00

#3 Nicole is also one of Mike’s cousin (amy, tiff and Megan’s sister!). She is a lot of fun and so strong. She can always make people laugh. I know she has had some hard times because her daughter Savahnna has juevenile diabetes, but she has done such an amazing job caring for her. She is also so strong! She has adorable twin girls who are beautiful and hilarious..they definetly have the Price blood! She is so beautiful too.

#7 Anna: we were roommates 10 years ago. She is sweet and smart and a hard worker. We had a lot of fun in our single days!

#8 Collette: Collette was also one of my roommates w/ Anna. When I first met her I thought she would be tough to get to know because she seemed quiet. Was I ever wrong. I still remember watching Tommy Boy together and that was when we clicked. She is so happy and can put you in a good mood! I had so much fun having her as a roomate!

#9 Heidi (roommate w/ anna and collette): Heidi and I shared a room in our apartment. I noticed right away that she was very responsible in all she did. I feel bad for her because I wasn’t always when it came to our closet (sorry Heidi!). She is also really funny and very real and genuine. She is always working to better herself as a person and a mom.

#10 Tiffany Larsen: Boy I could go on forever about Tiff. She has been one of my very best friends for 12 years now! We have been thru so much together, being roommates in Utah, breakups, marriages, kids, etc. She is one person that no matter how long it has been since we have seen each other, it doesn’t ever feel like we have been apart. One of the only people that I can have a long phone conversation with. I am not much of a phone person. She is a kindred spirit. I love her like a Sister. She is so fun and spunky!

#12. I have not known Amy Winward long, but I have been lucky enough to be her visiting teacher. She is so sweet and soft spoken and always has a smile. She is someone who is beautiful on the inside and out. She is someone I would like to be more like.

#13 Andrea is just so sweet and encouraging. She has helped me with activity days and just such a thoughtful person

#14 Ashby is so sweet and creative and very smart. She has a personality that anyone could get a long with. You never feel judged by her.

#15 Brianna: wow I have a lot of memories of Brianna. Let’s see. Sound Celebration, our summer day camp for kids in the ward, her mom’s tomato sandwhiches..I still love making them because of her, Havasupai (and a very embarrassing moment there), young women’s, the youth dances. Brianna is so energetic and athletic and always had the perfect physique I wish I had. She still looks perfect!

#16 Charissa is a good listener (or reader, lol) she always gives great advice and is so strong, she works as a nurse and a stay at home mom..more than I could do for sure!

#17 Eliza is so very sweet and thoughtful. She seems to always be in a good mood and I have never heard her complain, ever, I don’t think..

#18 Emily is very real and not afraid to speak her mind. I wish I had some of that in me. She is also very intellectual

#19 Haley, is so much fun to be around. She is easy to talk to and I wish she didn’t move so far away. Emmalee has a huge crush on her son too!

#20 Jessica has such a great work ethic and is so funny and is so tactful when she speaks her mind. another thing I would like. The reason I don’t speak my mind is because I am not tactful

#21 Johanna was my neighbor when Mike and I first got married. We were both shy at first but became great friends. We had a lot of fun being neighbors and learning to be wives and moms together. I miss her a lot! I still remember us staying together on 9/11 because we were both so freaked out and our hubbies were working.

#24 Lucia is my old roommate Anna’s sister. She is really fun and sweet. She is always dressed cute and has cute hair!

#25 Megan: we have never met (but will on Tues!) but have been on a forum together for years. I always felt like we had a lot in common. But she is way funnier and seems so cool! I am so excited that she lives in AZ now!

#26 Melanie: Melanie and I have a lot in common and she understands some trials I have been through because of her own experiences. She is so strong and really cool!

#27 Melissa Hale: Energetic and friendly are the word I think of to describe her. She is so sweet too!

#28 Nellie Johnston is Tiffany Larsen’s sister she is sweet and fun and let me live in her apartment for a whole week while Tiff and I were waiting to move into our condo in Provo. She is so funny! And so talented with sewing!

#29 Tara is in my ward. She is so sweet. I am sad she is moving before I got to know her better. I ma gonna miss sitting behind your family and seeing cute Mikey!

#30 Tiffany Dansie: She is in my ward and I was her visiting teacher for a short time. I have never told her this, but she really helped me. I felt like I got a lot more out of visiting teaching her than she got from me in the 2 months I did. I had a hard time for a long time feeling comfortable in my ward. Because of her and my friend Shanna always being so friendly and making me feel welcome I broke out of my shell. I love my ward now! She is a very inspiring person. She is a lot of fun, she is very honest and very spiritual. I look up to her with how healthy she is and how committed she is to excersing. Emmalee and her son Cameron are great friends too!

#31 Trisha..not sure if she reads my blog but she is Tiffany Larsen’s other sister. She is funny and spunky. I only met her a few times, but feel I know her well because of all the stories Tiffany told me about her. She is spunky and so cute. I remember how much fun it was to stand next to her in Tiff’s wedding line.

The friend's list!

2008-06-20T15:06:00.001-07:00

I saw this on someone elses blog:

When did you first meet the 1st person on your list? I met Amy ten years ago when we were in MCC 2nd ward (I think??). I was roommates with some girls some St John’s and Amy obviously knew them being from St John’s too. She is cousin’s with my husband and I knew her before I met Mike. When we were starting to date seriously I went with him to a family event and was so excited to find out Amy was his cousin!! I love her and her sisters and since I never had cousin’s my age I feel like they are the fun cousin’s I never had!

What do you like about the third person on your list's blog?
Megan (Amy’s sister!), is always so sweet. She has such an awesome and patient attitude. She is also so funny!

What do you like best about the 5th and 6th people on your list?

Okay Tiffany (Amy and Megan’s sister) is one of the funnest and funniest people I know. I never really knew her well until we both started blogging. I feel like we have so much in common and wish that she still lived in Mesa or atleast AZ!)

Tiffanye Duthie is also Mike’s cousin on his mom’s side of the family. I have known Tiffanye since she was probably 13 or 14. She has always been such a sweet and helpful person. All the little cousin’s (my kids included) LOVE her. She plays with them and takes them on 4 wheeler rides, etc. Now she is all grown up and married. It has been so neat to see her grow up! I know she will be a phenomenal mom!

What impresses you about the 11th and 22nd people on your list?
Amanda is so neat. I met her in H.S. but really got to know her within the last 4 years or so. She has such an amazing spirit and testimony It shows in EVERYTHING she does. She is always improving herself and gives awesome advice!

Julianna is awesome. I met her back in college. She is a hard worker and I have never heard her complain about things. I wish I could be like that.

What is a memory you have with the 23rd person on your list?
Kristina is so funny and someone I would love to get to know better! Her and her family seem like so much fun!

You know what? I feel like others are left out and I would like to say something nice about everyone on my list.

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-16T00:51:00.004-07:00

Father's Day was great! The kids and I made Mike his favorite breakfast, bacon sandwhich (bacon, runny yolk eggs(barf to me) jelly on toast. Emmalee got him a cool brown hat with an orange superman symbol, Dawson got him (and my step dad ) a steering wheel cover, it is cute because that is what he got me for mom's day too. He says he doesn't want us burning our hands on the steering wheels this summer.
I got him the Indiana Jones trilogy ( he LOVES Indiana Jones). Then we went to church and Mike wanted to grill steaks for dinner (I wanted to make him dinner, but he loves grilling so he made dinner, lol). Then we all watched Indian Jones and the raiders of the lost ark together. Good Day.

I love Mike and I am so happy to have him as a husband and father of my kiddos. He has always been a great playmate for them whether it be racing them at the park or to the car at the store, wresteling, playing video games and just being plain old goofy with them!

He has always been a hands-on dad. When our kids were babies he would take his turn with the baby on the weekends or looong nights when they woke up. He would always let me sleep in on saturday or sunday too (before he had sunday meetings ofcourse). He has never been afraid to change a diaper and we take turns when he is home. He cooks dinner a few times a week without me even asking him and never complains about it. He helps around the house (I have friends who are shocked about this fact and spread the word to all my friends about it!).

He has always been a such a good provider. We decided before we had kids that I would stay home with them. For a while that meant me babysitting and him working 2 jobs. I think he worked 2 jobs for about 4 years or so. He rarely ever complained about it. He always told me that it was just something he had to do.

He has excelled so much in his career and contnues to do so. He always gives nothing more than excellence into his job. He is so smart and has such a strong work ethic.

I love watching him with Emmalee. His overall demeanor softens when he is with her. It melts my heart. She is such a classic "Daddy's little girl". I love how patient he is when helping Dawson with his homework. He is so cute with Peyton!! Our kids adore their Daddy!

I love his strong testimony. I love his desire to do the best he can in his calling as scoutmaster and to honor his priesthood. He is always ready to help out or give a blessing.

He has a lot of attributes that I would like to have or improve upon. He has taught me so much and he makes me want to be a better person. When I am having a hard time he can always make me forget my problems and get me laughing again.

He is an amazing mechanic! I tell ya he is my own personal McGeyver. He can fix anything! In the almost 9 years we have been together we have only needed a mechanic once. He has fixed every car problem that comes along, and even changes the oil himself. He has saved us thousands of dollars!

He is so much fun! I always have a good time even just doing nothing with him.

Happy Father's Day Mike, we love you!

I also want to take a minute to write about my Daddy. He passed away 12 years ago. My dad was very special to me. I always felt like we were kindred spirits. We were so much a like that at times we would butt heads. Still, he was almost always the first to apologize. He was so funny and told the best stories. I wish I remembered more of them.

I could spend a long time talking about his cooking. I miss his cooking. I cook well, but I did not get his creative talent when it comes to cooking. He always made everything from scratch. I remember as a kid getting so excited when he would make his bread or cinnamon rolls or pies oh or his peach cobbler!! Yum!

He could always make me laugh when I was upset. I was his little girl and he always made sure I knew that. I still remember how good I felt when he gave me a blessing or even just a hug.

I think about him everyday, but I rarely delve into my memories like I am now, because although I know I will see him again someday, I miss him very much and it hurts that he is not here anymore.

I love nad miss my Daddy!!

I have to Thank Heidi Cosseboom for this Behavior System for my kids!

2008-06-13T00:07:00.002-07:00

Heidi thank you. Heidi is a dear friend and former college roomate. I was reading her blog the other day and was so impressed with the system she set up for her kids. She got it from someone else, and it turns out to be a girl I knew in highschool. Anyways it is a system that encourages children to help out and have a good attitude.

I know I have talked with Heidi and others about how I used to think that I was a patient person..until I had kids. I love my kids and I am so grateful for them, but I have always had cycles where I feel that no matter what I have no control over them. I also didn't know how strong free agency was until I had kids!

I have felt like the kids take for granted all that Mike and I do for them. They demanded things and argued if we said no. When it comes time for them to help with things they whine, or complain, etc. Then ofcourse our patience grows super thin. I have been so sick about this.

Plus I have always (as all of you know!) been one to stress over a dirty house. I cannot think straight if my hosue is super messy. I don't mean a little clutter, I mean a tornado zone (which my hosue becomes alot).

I was never caught up on any job in the house and I felt over worked, etc. I was usually cranky by the end of the day and I hate to admit it but I have yelled at my kids when they resist doing what I would like them to. Not something I am proud of at all. I actually have felt so guilty about it. I also felt guilty because the house was always a mess, I was always cleaning and didn't always have time or energy to have 1 on 1 time with my kids everyday. I was tired of it. The kids would help but it was like pulling teeth. So when I saw this I felt like it could put peace in our home.

The first thing I did was make a chore chart that included:

6 chores that they will alternate each week (they each will be responsible for 3 each week)

Floors: help with the sweeping, mopping and vacuuming.

Dishes: help me load/unload dishwasher and rinse the handwashables.

Chef's Helper: help me cook dinner, set table, and help tidy up after dinner

Bathroom: Help me clean the bathroom and keep it tidy

Dust: obvious, lol

Feeding the Cats: enough said

Then there are responsibilities of their own that they will always have:

Laundry: they each are expected to help out with all the laundry and fold and put away their own clothes, plsu help me with Peyton's clothes. They LOVED sorting the clothes and putting the soap in and turning the machine on.

Make Bed

Clean Room

Pick up Toys

Brush Teeth

Bathe

Wash face

Pray

Homework (for Dawson during the school year and I will find somehting for Emm so she can have "homework" too).

Read: For every 15 minutes Dawson reads he gets 1 token. Emmalee can get one if she can stay and listen to a whole story.

Then if Mike or I see them do something nice for someone or do something witout asking we can reward them with an extra token.

Each chore will have tokens according to the difficulty of the job. Examples are, dishes or laundry will be 5 tokens, while brushing teeth or bathing will be 1 token and so forth.

I am also starting with Peyton now so it will be normal when he is old enough to understand. He will get a token for picking his toys up, and as he gets older we will add more.

Then they can turn in the tokens for a reward. Dawson can pay 3 tokens for 1/2 hour on the PC or to play the wii or playstation2. Emmalee can pay 3 tokens to play on the PC or play dress up.

They can pay 3 tokens for 1/2 hour of TV or 5 tokens each for a movie.

or they can use them to get ice cream or a happy meal, or redeem them for a prize from the treasure box. I have candy, nail polish, cars, water guns, those $1 looney toons dvd's from walmart, gum, stickers, bubbles, water balloons and $1 bills. I thought they could choose money and save it for a bigger toy at the store. and so on. Each prize is price between 1 to 50 tokens. Chuck e cheese is 50 tokens each, 3 tootsie rolls is 1 token, etc. So they can learn to save and wait.

Okay we are on day one but I did not hear one complaint about doing chores. (That was the other thing, if they complain about doing something then no tokens. I will never take tokens away, they will just lose the privilidge of earning more for complaining and possibly do an extra chore for "draining my energy" if the are extra naughty over something like tantrum or being mean to a sibling). The kids have been so helpful and behaved better. I like ti to because I have extra time with them since I am doing some of the chores with them.

This morning they got up had breakfast did their morning chores, got their tokens and then we went to a splash park with some other moms and kids from my church. They came home, rested and then helped with the laundry, played and then helped with dinner and picking up toys, etc, then played till bed time. I know if Mike and I are consistent thsi is really gonna help us!

Here is the chore chart I made. I used velcro so the chores can be switched around and they can take them off and put them in their envelope when they are done!

Here is the token jar and the kid's jars. Peyton's isn't there because the shelf is weak. I need to buy a new shelf soon!

We are going to make a posterboard of the family rules tomorrow too.

Anyways thanks again Heidi. It is an awesome idea!

More pics from St Johns!

2008-05-30T21:00:00.003-07:00

We have had a lot of fun enjoying the under 100 degree weather! We have played outside all day at the park and the pool. It has been really fun!

I took the kids and 2 of their cousin's, Karsten and Melody to the park yesterday. They all have bright lips because they had just finished snowcones, lol. I tried so hard to get a pic with all of them looking, but it didn't happen.

the last one is my fave..such happy kiddos!

Peyton LOVED the swing. He was also fearless at the pool. IT was so hard to hold on to him because he wanted free. Since he is STILL not walking, I had to hold him tight. Hopefully soon he will be walking.

Lastly my mother in law, sister in law and I all made rag quilts this week. Piece quilts are hard, but so worth it in the end. I made this one for Emmalee because she loves penguins. I gave it to her and she told me, "Mommy I love my Happy Feets blanket! Thank you!", lol.

Hell Froze Over....

2008-05-27T20:41:00.002-07:00

Not exactly,but it in the summer Arizona can feel like He!l, lol. As we left a dreary, rainy, Mesa last friday, we expected it to be cold, but we were in for a suprise as to how cold. We had to go to St John's through the canyon bcause Mike had to look at soem jobs his company is doing for Northland Pioneer College in Whiteriver and Showlow. After passing Whie River it got really cold and we began to notice snow on the ground. It was pretty crazy. Now when I lived in Provo it snowed at the beginning of May, but this is Arizona and almost June. It was pretty crazy but so cool. Here are some pics. It was better snow than I have seen in the winter in Showlow.

Here is the landscape with my cute husband!

here it is at Hon-Dah Casino

It is finally warmer and hopefully we can hit St John's Pool tomorrow!

Here are some pics of Peyton. He loves my in-laws dog cage, can you tell??

thatis it for now but I have more!

Last Day of School Festivities

2008-05-27T20:09:00.003-07:00

Well school is out! I have a first grade graduate!!! Dawson got a medal for being on top honor roll all year long. He also got a reading award in his class for reading the most books in his class and being one of the best readers in the class.
He loves to read, he reads in the car, at home or anywhere he can. He can't get enough. I am so fine with that. He ws supposed to get a toy prize, but he didn't get it. He missd the last day of school so that may be why, but I had told his teacher he wouldn't be there. Should I email and say something?

Two or three weeks ago he also was in an art contest. HIs school does an art exhibit once a year. Before the exhibit they have every student do the same project. Then two kids who had the best picture are chosen from each class (the classes all have about 30 or so kids each)and entered into a contest. Then 1st, 2nd and 3rd place are chosen from each grade. Dawson didn't get 1, 2, or 3rd, but was awarded as a finalist and put on the finalist wall at the front of the exhibit.

The Pictures they created are from Van Goh, I believe. It was based on cubism. They drew a drum and guitar and colored them with chalk on a cottonball (which can be hard) and then they cut the picture in 4 pieces and mix them up. They free-hand drew the instruments and I think he did a dang good job for his age!

Here are a few pics form crazy hair/mis-matched day from last Monday. On the one day he can dress mis-matched, he comes out matching. So I had to help him. You can't really tell in the pic, but he has hair sticking up on top and out on the sides. He had fun!

Just a small, simple post on prayer

2008-05-20T11:42:00.002-07:00

I have been so busy lately and feel so rushed. ofcourse that makes me feel like I am "droppin" the ball" so to speak on all my mom/wife duties. I am a worrier by nature and so I can get overwhelmed easily. So this week has been difficult.

This last sunday we had a lesson in Relief Society on Earnest prayers. Well I was sitting here feeling stressed and like I needed to vent. Then I thought, I don't wanna bore my friend's with my stresss right now and I don't want to gossip onmy kids..that oly feeds the fire sometimes, lol. So i thought I don't have anyone to vent to.

That is when the thought that I get ad usually ignore when I am in the middle of a stress moment.."Pray...Now!". I usually brush it off and decide I will pray when I am in a better mindset or hen the kids are down for a nap or later in the day. I know I should be doing the opposite and try to pray in the moment I feel like I need to, but don't. Well I decided that I was gonna go pray because I needed it.

I put Peyton in his crib, I put Alvin and the Chipmunks on for Emmalee and snuck into my room. A girl in my ward had mentioned some ways to have a more earnest and humble prayer. She said that you need to picture Heavenly Father and have the mindset that you are having a conversation with him. I don't always do that and my prayers are usually rushed. I am usually a morning/night and quick prayer in my head type of person. So I decided to try that.

I got down on my knees and spoke to my Heavenly Father out loud. I have not had such a peaceful feeling after a prayer in a long time I am ashamed to say. I was able to get all my worries or stresses out to him, get some direcion and clarity and most important get some peace. I realized that by waiting till things calmed down or when I was feeling better, I was hindering myself. When else is a prayer more sincere or more humble than when you are in the moment? I know I have heard that before, but I am stubborn and I didn't let that sink in before. I now it is true now more than ever.

I am going to make a challenge for myself that right when I have a challenge I need to pray. I Know that our Heavenly Father loves us all very much.

Tagged by my SIL Teanne

2008-05-19T22:06:00.004-07:00

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TOGETHER? In October it will be 9 yrs. Time sure flies!

HOW LONG DID YOU DATE? We were married 5.5 mos from the time we started dating. I swore up and down to everyone that I would never get engaged that quick, but yeah I did :)

WHO SAID " I LOVE YOU" FIRST? Mike did

WHO EATS MORE? depends, but since I am dieting he does...

WHO HAS MORE SPEEDING TICKETS? Mike. I have not had one ticket in 12 years and he has had 3 or 4 since we have been married.

WHO IS SMARTER? Depends on the subject. Mike is mechanichally and numbers smart, I am book smart.

WHO IS MORE SENSITIVE? I am for sure. Mike lets problems roll off his back, while I wallow sometimes.

WHO DOES THE LAUNDRY? we both do!

WHO DOES THE DISHES? I do. Mike hates dishes

WHO IS MORE ROMANTIC? I am for sure

WHO PAYS THE BILLS? me. Leave it to the Dyslexic wife to do the bills..scary huh?

WHO MOWS THE LAWN? Mike

WHO COOKS DINNER? Both. he is great about helping cook dinner

WHO IS MESSIER? I am, but I am also the one better at actually cleaning up. I am a scatterbrain, that gets disorganized easily that has a slight case of OCD and goes nuts when there is messes that stay longer than a few hours.

WHO DRIVES WHEN YOU ARE TOGETHER? Mike..because he is a backseat driver when I drive.

WHO IS MORE STUBBORN? we both are but I think he is a tad more stubborn

WHO IS FUNNIER? Me ofcourse! Just kidding Mike is for sure!

WHO ASKED WHO OUT FIRST? Mike did. We just sorta hung out at first though.

WHO PROPOSED? Mike did at my 22nd bday party!

I am going to tag Ashby, Andrea, Kristina and all my Tiffany's, lol.

Spring Cleaning

2008-05-16T00:27:00.002-07:00

Okay so since I have been feeling better (almost 2 weeks now!) Mike and I have been spring cleaning. Actually it should be quarter-yearly cleaning. I decided that even after getting rid of bags of toys every 3 or 4 months that the kids still have too mnay toys. I rarely buy toys for the kids, if anything it is books I buy, so they make out like bandits at their Bday parties and christmas. Well i found more broken toys and toys they haven't played with in over 4 months. It was down to a whole bag of crap for goodwill instead of 3 or 4. It includes clothes, toys and anything around the house we haven't touched in a while. I have to say I feel like I am on top of it all again. I have three smaller plastic tubs in the playroom for toys, one for dress-up, one for outdoor stuff and one for stuffed animals. Then I have the rack with leggos, and other toys sets. I used to have 2 huge tubs plus the rack, plus two huge tubs, one for each of my older kids rooms. They each have 1 small tub in their room now. I also got rid of old dishes, old clothe sof ours, etc. Then the happ/sad stuff. i am packing all the baby stuff, except the crib, playpen and saucer and toys ofcourse. It makes me sad that Peyton is getting, big, but nice ot have more room.

We bought Dawson and Peyton a new bunk bed set off Craigslist. Obviously Peyton will not be in for almost a year, but I couldn't pass the deal up. It is a bottom full, top twin bed with a desk on the side. Dawson gets so distracted when he does his homework out here, so I decided I wanted something to help him in his room. It is so nice and we got it for $150! Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE Craigslist?? I do! I will ahve to take some pics. I also bought new bedding. I searched everywhere for Camo bedding and could only find a set with comforter, skirt and sham or just a full or twin for a lot of money. I found a set at Bed Bath and Beyond that had all the above, plus flat/fitted sheets and 2 pillow cases and 2 shams (1 of each for the twin) for about the same as those other sets. I would have had to spend like $30 or $40 more for the sheets if i bought the other set. They only had the full so they ordered the twin set and it will be delivered to me for free because they like me, lol. I am not sure why they waived the $6.95 shipping, they said because I had been in before looking for the set, so it was a great suprise. Mime got the bed together on tuesday and the bed and bedding look awesome. I just need to hang the wood framed mirror and deer antlers and get my mock coleman lantern lap and their room will be done!

I seriously LOVE decorating and if I was rich I would be doing it all the time. It is so much fun to make the decisions and see the finished product. I will post some pics when i am done.

Well I am finally tired so good night!

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-13T00:08:00.003-07:00

I know it is late, but it's the thought that counts, right? Anyways I hope all my friends had a wonderful Mother's day! Mine was great. At 7::30 I am awoken by Mike's alarm. He says he has meetings today and to go back to sleep. I think hmm, it is early and Mother's day why meetings? Then I think maybe they had to have a meeting and are doing it early so they can be home to help their wives get the kids ready for church. Anyway, I fall back to sleep. I wake up hearing Mike saying "Okay let's bring Mommy some Pancakes". So I quickly pretend to still be asleep. Emmalee nudges me and I pretend to have trouble waking up. They made me a yummy breakfast in bed. It was really sweet. Then Emmalee brings me my card and Dawson brings my gifts. Dawson got me a steering wheel cover. It is cute with hearts, I love hearts. It is a little loud for me, but I love it and think it is great because he thought of it himself. PLus it will be nice now that the hot weather is upon us. No more burning my hands on the steering wheel. Emmalee got me two really cute necklaces. Mike said she picked them out herself and I have to say she did a great job! Mike got me a really cool watch that I love! Peyton gave me a huge, smile and a slobbery kiss!

Mike and the kids made dinner and cleaned the house and let me take a nice loong nap. I LOVE naps, but rarely get to take one or if I do it is interrupted a lot. So it was great to have quiet and recharge. I love and look forward to Mother's Day every year because I have a hubby and kids who really make it a great day and make me feel appreciated.

I am so thankful and blessed to be a mommy. I love my kids and have learned and grown so much from being their mom. They light up my life (cheesy, but oh well) and I cannot imagine my life without them.

I also wanted to tell my Mom how much I love her. She has always been a great example of choosing the right, perseveering and her testimony truly helped mold mine and my life I chose. I love you mom. Thank You for everything that you have done and continue to do for me and my family.

Here is the official twilight trailer

2008-05-06T10:57:00.002-07:00

Now I am dying even more to see this. Ugh 7 mos to wait is tortureous!

This is my life!

2008-05-06T00:22:00.004-07:00

Collette sent this to me and I decided ot post it on here instea dof forwarding it since most who read my blog I would have emailed anyways.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

My Nonny (grandma on my mom's side) was name Prudence (she was born in 1919 so i guess it was an "in" name then?). Well she hated the name so she had everyone call her Pat. My mom wanted to name me after her and she said she wouldn't allow my mom to name me Prudence (thank You Nonny!) and so I was named Patricia and my dad chose my middle name Monique.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

when I watched the Pursuit of Happyness. I love that movie and I always cry at the end.

3. Do you like your handwriting?

when I am careful I have decent handwriting

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Roast Beast (beef)

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

3

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?

i think so. I am nice

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?

um do you know who I am married too??? I have to keep on my toes marrying into the Price family!

8. Do you still have your tonsils?
nope out when I was 8

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

Funny stroy about that. I lived up in Provo about 10 years ago. My brother came to visit for the 4th of july. I talked him, my roomate Marie and his friend Randon into going to Murray to go Bungee Jumping. I was so Psyched and really wanted to do it. My brother not so much. Well I get up there and I get into position to jump and the guy "spotting"me or whatever, warns me that the way I kept positioning myself would result in me smacking my head on the bottom of the jumping point. So Iyeah that freaked me out and I didn't try. Billy on the other hand did it like 5 times!!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?

lucky charms

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?

No

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?

Yes, I went through alot during my teenage years and I NEVER give up trying at things

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?

chocolate chip and malted chocolate chip from Thrifty!

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

Eyes and it might sound wierd but their laugh. I think you can tell if alot about someone's personality in their laugh.

15. RED OR PINK?

red, although I do like Pink if it is with brown!

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?

procrastinator right here!!

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST

my dad

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?

Definitely

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?

denim jeans and my feet are aue naturale!

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?

a fudgesicle

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

John Mayer "No Such thing"

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?

Aqua

23. FAVORITE SMELL

curve cologne on Mike and my baby after a bath

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?

Billy my brother

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?

Ofcourse! Collette is so awesome. I had so much fun when we were roomates. I clicked with her the most. I miss her!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?

basketball and believe it or not I am liking football now!

27. HAIR COLOR?

drak, dark brown with light brown highlights

28. EYE COLOR?

hazel

27. Do you wear contacts?

no, I should though

30. FAVORITE FOOD?

I love subway or japaneese or Cafe rio..yum!

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

depends. I love romantic comedies, but I also llike a good scary movie..not the gorey ones, but the ones that mess with you mind, like Disturbia..good movie.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

Disturbia

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?

Brown and Aqua

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?

umm since I am stuck in The Valley Winter for sure

35. HUGS OR KISSES?

depends

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?

chocolate

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?

not sure

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND

not sure

39. What book are you reading now? I am reading New Moon by Stephanie Meyer for the 2nd time. The Host comes out tomorrow and I HAVE to pick it up.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?

Crestron (Mike got it from work, it's a program he uses).

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?

George Lopez and House

42. FAVORITE SOUND?

Peyton Laughing. The kid has the happiest most infectious laugh!

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?

umm anyone that knows me kn ows it is The Beatles

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?

Logan Utah..I know so exciting!

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?

I love singing

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

Phoenix, AZ

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?

Everyones

48. WHAT TIME IS IT NOW?

12:49 a.m. My alone time

I am tagging everyone who read because I love seeing the answers ot these :)

what's on your playlist??

2008-05-05T00:08:00.004-07:00

Okay I get an itunes card once a month or so because I am ADDICTED to music. I have a ton of music, 5 gigs to be exact, but I need more, lol. I am getting stumped lately as to what to get. So...I am asking my friends to share their new or old faves. That way next month I can have a good idea of what i want to purchase. I like a bunch of everything, except heavy rock. Thanks in advance!

You think Fat is ugly??

2008-05-04T13:58:00.005-07:00

My friend Ashley sent this to me. All I can say is yuck!

I love my curves,
I love my curves,
I love my curves.............

You think fat is ugly???

Check this out.

Well!!! After seeing these I think I'll keep my fat butt!

3 Things.....

2008-05-01T13:06:00.002-07:00

First I am sooooooo eacited for the Gilbert Temple! It will be so much closer for us deep in East Mesa, Gilbert, QC and AJ. I cannot wait

Speaking of Temples,my friend Ashby was saying that her sister is a Temple worker at the Provo Temple. She had mentioned to her that people are bringing their cellphones into sessions. It gets worse. There are people who are actually taking phone pics of the sessions, celestial room, etc. When I heard that my jaw dropped to the floor. I cannot believe anyone would do that. They are taking lightly of such a sacred thing. In my opinion those people may not be ready to go to the Temple if they cannot see how awful that is.

Lastly, I am finally starting to feel better!! My ears still hurt and I am congested but I have some energy and the sinus pain is gone. So sadly I have to catch up on my housework. I am sooooo behind. My laundry room has dirty clothes all over the floor. Emmalee had her last clean outfit today. Mike helped this weekend, but I didn't have the ehart to ask him for more help. He is so stressed out at the moment. He has 15 qoutes/designs to do this week, a big side job to design and he has to help plan scout camp for next month, plus mutual and Scout roundtable this week. I feel bad because there is nothing I can to to help him out.

Anyways I am deep cleaning today. My question is does anyone have a great system for cleaning or organizing that makes it easier to keep on top of things? I seriously feel like I am deep cleaning every other day. I have the kids help, but I just feel like I need more order in how I do it. Any organizing suggestions would be appreciated (and I mean organizing as in organizing and scheduling).

Well I am off to finish cleaning!

Oh the fun I have had

2008-04-29T23:44:00.002-07:00

Okay so if you haven't noticed the theme of my blog lately is sickness. Well I have been the good mama and taken my kids in when they were sick. However I am a hypocrite and never went in. I HATE going to the Dr, so I avoid it at all costs. I tried to treat my colds, etc on my own with natural stuff and it helped a bit, sometimes curing it. Still I think a bit lingered. I went to the Dr. today and I found out that I have a double ear infection (I thought only kids got those??) and a nasty sinus infection. The Dr gave me an antibiotic and some flonase. He told me I have to get my bad allergies in tact to keep from getting so sick again. So I am drugged up good at the moment..ibuprofin, cipro, flonase, nyquil. Boy I feel weird.

I better get better fast because I hate being out of comisson. I have had to cancel playdates, Activity Days, my visiting tecahers from coming and I have missed 3 T-Ball games. Emmalee is bored out of her mind. I think so much candyland and old maid is too much for her. There are parts of my house you do not want to enter. My dear sweet husband helped me with the laundry this weekend and with the kids cleaned a bit. Mike has also made a lot of dinners this last week. I love him so much! I am so thankful for my family and the help they are. My mom came to visit saturday. Mike was out on a Scout campout, so it was me against the kiddos. (It wasn't too bad). She took one look at me and sent me to bed and took care of the kids. I slept for 4..yes 4 hours! I haven't been sleeping well in weeks because of this so it was so wonderful. I hope I am better by the weekend because Mike and I had planned to go out on a date.

Emmalee is going to start preschool in the fall. A girl in my ward's mom used to work at Dawson's school and even developed some of the curriculums there. So it is exactly where I want Emmalee to go. I am so excited for her and for me! She is getting so bored at home and I can look forward to alone, one on one time with my little guy Peyton. I also can't wait to see all she will learn!

Well I am off to bed. 'Nite

I Heart Tiffany Larsen

2008-04-23T23:30:00.002-07:00

Okay so I was downloading some of my old CD's that I hadn't got around to downloading yet. I came across Grease and I thought of Tiffany. We have been friends for 12 yearsnow..can you believe it Tiff?? We have been through so much together be it rough breakups, Provo, College, Marriage and Babies (our oldest babes are 22 days apart and betrothed), and the saddest for me was when she moved to North Carolina 2 years ago. We still talk as much as we can and of all my friends it never feels like we have been apart. I am not much of a phone talker, but with her I can talk for hours. I miss you so much and that song ade me think of all our fun times! Here are some pics. They are actually pics of pics since it was before the digi age and my scanner sucks, lol.

Charlie's Angels: Tiffany is the red head in front, and Caroline is the blonde in back.

Provo Life. I loved our townhouse. Tiff do you remember the Deer Stew?? I still Cannot eat deer meat. I just think of a big gob of deer fur, lol!!

Time for Pictures!!

2008-04-22T11:09:00.003-07:00

First here are some pics of Dawson's T-Ball team. They are all doing great and improving each week. It has been fun to watch them as a ball flies into the field they all run from different directions to the center to catch the ball or how some of the will get distracted when running the bases or some will even slide each and every base. It is priceless!!

A few weeks ago Mike and I went to Nascar. Okay stop laughing, seriously it was fun. Mike's company offered suite tickets in Troy Aikmen's suite. Mike and I are not into Nascar but we had a blast! We got to walk a lot (like 3 miles, so I got my exercise in for the day!). We went on a pit tour, which was way cool. I loved feeling the wind whip by as the cars were doing practice laps. In the suite we got headsets and could listen to the drivers talk to their crew. I listened to the commentators and Kyle Busch mostly..he was so freakin' funny! He ran an awesome race and won. It was amazing to see how fast the cars were going and to feel it. It doesn't sound anything like it does on TV. I can honestly say I would love to go again next year. The pit crews are unbelievably fast during pit time too.

here is our suite:

The Pit tour:

a true nascar fan!! LOL!!!

Here are random pictures from the past month!

Peyton climbing on things for the first time..we are in trouble lol, look how proud he is!

Park time

It's a bird..it's plane..no it's Super Peyton!!

Mike and I took turns going to church Sunday since Peyton was sick. I came home after sacrament meeting to this!!

mom i am sure i can ride it..if I could only figure out how to get on!!

I had to put a plug in for my new obsession! I love the Twilight series and I am reading them for the second time to bide my time till #1 book 4 comes out in August and #2 the Movie

I am obsessed! I have to look for movie clips each day. I hope that I can be patient, lol. I told Mike waiting for this is worse than waiting for Batman Dark Knight..which is out soon!! I wasn't sure on who they chose as edward at first, but after seeing their chemistry and how much his mannerisms look like how I pictured Edward's I think he will do great!

Well, bye for now!

Making up for not blogging..very long!

2008-04-22T09:56:00.002-07:00

Okay after getting chastised for being such a slacker, I am blogging an update on our family. It has been a rough 3 months full of germs, cough syrup and disinfectant. I thought we were done then 2 weeks ago all 3 kids got a cold accompanied by a nasty cough. Then of course mommy got it. Let me tell you it kicked my butt too. Then this last week I got yet another one that if you were to call me at the moment you would ask me 'how many packs a day?'. I sound bad. All weekend Peyton had a fever. I took him in yesterday. He has a sinus infection and what looks like an ear infection waiting to happen. So he is on antibiotics for the 4th time in 2 months, ugh! My poor baby. He seems to feel a bit better after 2 doses of augmentin. He is up and playing, which is a great improvement. I pray that with the warm weather and school being out in a month that the sickies will stay away from our home.

As a result of all these sick bugs, and teething his molars, Peyton has been waking up 3, 4, 5 and yes even 6 times a night. I would love to say I have been a patient, never complaining mom through it, but not so much. If you know me well or have been one of my roommates in the past, I am not a morning person at all. Wen I wake up (especially multiple times) I am not myself. I feel bad that I have complained about my sweet baby. I never showed it to him though! This sweet reminder has definitely foiled any ideas that I have had or Mike has prompted about having #4 anytime soon. I love my sleep.

Dawson started T-ball last month. A lot of our ward friends have been involved in it, our Primary Prez is the coach! Mike is even one of the assistant coaches. It has been so comical watching these 5 and 6 year olds play. I love it! He is doing so well in school. Just one problem. He has been slacking on getting his work done on time. We were stumped as to why at first, but we think he may not be challenged enough. Finally he admitted that his work is so easy. I am not sure how it can be so easy. He is a first grader reading like a 3rd grader, and doing multiplication and division, but somehow it isn't enough. So he should be put in a more challenging class next year. That is what I love about his school. They put each kid in the class that will not under or over challenge them. So we will see how that goes next year.

My dear Emmalee, whom I love so much, is still my challenge. She is a sass! I swear I do not give in to her much, but almost everyday she still fights and gets sent to the corner for talking back to me or whining when I tell her no or to do something. I am not sure what to do, but hope it is a phase that will pass. I know it must be amplified because we have all been cooped up through all this sickness. (Imiss our play dates, joyschool, babysitting swaps and sewing group immensely! I need my socialization). She is loving primary and her friends. Dance class starts again this week and hopefully by tomorrow we will all be well enough to go! She has been so in to coloring and computer games lately. It really helps me out when i need to do things like clean, or work (or play, lol) on the computer. She sits next to me and plays on the kids laptop (aka my old laptop) while I work on mine!

Peyton is 14 mos now. He is so close to walking, but is still unsure of his footing. I know he will be like Emmalee and just one day in the next few weeks be walking..no running right away. He loves cats and dogs. He calls our cats, Serafina and Tallie and our dog, Buffie, "Bobs". I am not sure where he came up with that but it is freakin' cute the way he says it. He also can say Baby, up, go, hi, bye-bye, mama, dada, baba (even though he doesn't use them anymore), no, yay and I am sure a few others. He is so much fun! He has the best personality. He can seriously change your mood to good no matter how much of a bad mood you are in. He is also the biggest Mama's boy ever. I love when he is sick or gets hurts, Mike will pick him up and he immediately looks and calls for me :).

Mike is still working hard. He is waiting on a new job. A good friend he used to work with is being promoted to branch manager of their media firm and wants to bring Mike on in the next few months. We are patiently waiting for that call, as it would mean he would finally be getting paid what he is worth. Plus the office politics at his job are awful. I could go on but shouldn't. He would also be able to excel to a senior engineer a lot faster at the new place. I am seriously so proud of him. He has fought his way up the latter and gotten promotions that most people with his degree wouldn't. He is a fast learner with an unbelievable drive and work ethic. He was called to Scout Master for the Deacon's Quorum last may and loves the calling even when there are only 2 boys in there..soon to be just 1. I think the camp outs are his favorite part.

I am just hanging out at home a lot since we have all been sick. The only outing I have had in the last 2 weeks are running errands. I am hoping Peyton and I are feeling better in the next few days because I miss socialization. I am thinking about starting school again this fall. I took a 2 yr hiatus, but would like to get going again. Only one class at a time this time. 3 or 4 proved to be too much with babysitting and kids. Now that I am not babysitting and Emmalee will hopefully starting preschool in the fall I can do it. Actually I may take 2 classes. I would like to do one academic and one fun class. Probably voice class or something fun. I have took a break from doing my Etsy boutique. It has been nice, but I am thinking about starting at least the bracelets up soon. The sewing would take up too much time, so I will wait on that. I want to start a Dyson fund with my earnings. I borrowed my sister-in-law Teanne's and I want one so bad. I have wood floors and to skip one step (sweeping) would be awesome. Plus our vacuum is gonna last too much longer..I hope, lol. I have been on Weight Watchers for 6 weeks and lost 14 lbs. It has been harder this time around, but I will NOT give up.

That is our last few months in a nutshell. I will add pictures in the above post!

Weekly Update

2008-04-01T23:01:00.002-07:00

The last few weeks have been so busy and crazy. Each week atleast one of us was sick. Peyton had 2 ear infection in a month. Last Monday he had a fever of 103 when he woke up from his morning nap. I gave him motrin and by 11:30 it was at 104.4! I piggy-backed his motrin dose with tylenol. The fever did not budge after an hour. So by 1 I called the pediatricin's office. by 2:30 the fever was still there. I was freaking out. None of my kids have EVER had a fever that high, plus it is my 13 month old with it. I had not heard back from the pediatrician by 3:45, so I decided that once Dawson got home we would go to urgent care. All I can say is that NextCare Urgent care on Power and Brown is awesome. We waited a bit, but once they took him back to triage and saw he had such a high fever( it had thankfully gone down to 103.4), they kept him back, gave him some motrin and had the Dr check him right away. The Dr. thought that he may have bronchiolitis, but wasn't positive. He had the nurse check his temp bever we left and it had gone up to 103.7 1/2 hour after the motrin. So he told us that he wouldn't be able to consciously send us home and that he didn't have enough resources to find out what it may be, so he sent us to the ER. We went to Banner Gateway. The Nurses (except the admitting nurse) were awesome. After 3 or more hours of waiting we got called back to a room and 1.5 hours later (I kid you not) the Dr came in. He was back to 104.2. The Dr (who was preggo) asked what his symptoms were, and had the odacity to ask me "Why?" I brought him in. No worries about my baby's temperature boiling or anything. No worries that it is RSV and flu seasona nd he is barely over 1 and underweight for his age. I was not happy. They did a strep and RSV test, both came back negative. She never listened to his breathing. Then they did a chest Xray. They had us wait in the patient waiting wing. They forgot to give him the dose of motrin they promised. I had to ask a nurse over the waiting area (who was very wonderful) for the motrin. at 2 am the Dr came and told us that he had Pneumonia. No apologies for treating me like a over worried mom or anything. She says that she is going to prescribe him Omnicef. I had told her that he had been on Amoxicillin and omnicef in the last month (the omnicef only a week ago). Can you guess what she gave him??? Yep Omnicef. I was not happy. He has had antibiotics so much in teh last few months that I didn't want him on the same thing so soon. They also gave him a shot of an antibiotic that I can't remember and they did nto write down on his paperwork. I was not happy with the ER. I will go to banner desert next time one of my kids is sick. I took Emm there once and they are so much more understanding with children.

Mike and Billy ahd given him a blessing before the ER and that seemed to help to. I am so thankful for the Priesthood and the blessings it brings. He was better even before his first dose of Omnicef.

He is almost 100% better now. He still has a throaty cough, and his appetite is almost back to normal..he is still a picky eater, lol.

It was so hard to see him so sick and not be able to make it better. I am so thankful he is healthy again.

We have also been busy with Joyschool (we finally started it up again), dance lesson's, dawson's T-Ball and 1st grade Musical, family in town, birthday parties, etc. I don't see things slowing down until after school is out!

Mike got me a new toy!

It is an anniversary gift (we haven't been able to celbrate yet because of sicko kids). My old camera was going Bipolar on us. It would pop up the pic I just took each time I tried to take another picture. I love it it is so small and takes awesome pics (I will post some soon).

Well I better go clean the house...Oh teh joy!!! LOL!!

My ABC's

2008-04-01T22:46:00.002-07:00

My ABC's: I was tagged by my cousin Tiffanye

A - Attached or single: Attached
B - Best friend: Mike
C - Cake or pie: Cakes, especialy my moms! I agree Tiffanye I love the cake she made for our wedding!! Heck anything she cooks is awesome!
D - Day of choice: Saturday
E - Essential item: TV, Van, iPod, cell
F - Favorite color: Brown and Turquoise...so agree with ya there!
G - Gummy bears or worms: Gummy bears.
H - Hometown: Gilbert, AZ
I - Indulgence(s): Chocolate
J - January or July: January
K - Kids: 3, Dawson 6.5, Emmalee 4 and Peyton 1
L - Life is incomplete without: My family and the gospel
M - Marriage date: 3/25/2000
N - Number of siblings: 4
O - Oranges or apples: Oranges
P - Phobias or fears: snakes, planes and heights
Q - Quotes: Nothing taste as good as being skinny
R - Reason to smile: Peyton's smile and laugh! and Emmalee's Emmalee'ism's
S - Season of choice: Spring!!
T - Tag three friends: Megan Stott, Tiffany Dansie and Melissa Hale
U - Unknown fact about me: I don't know I am boring. I wore braces for 5 stinkin' years
V - Very favorite store: Target, old navy
W - Worst habit: Procrastination and nail biting
X - X-ray or ultrasound: an X-Ray diagnosed Peyton was sick last week so X-Ray
Y - Your favorite food: japaneese
Z - Zodiac sign: sagitarius

My Book Reading Mojo is back!

2008-03-24T10:14:00.003-07:00

I LOVE reading books. It is so funa nd a great mood enhancer for me. Unfortunetly it has been a loong time since I have fallen in love with a book. I have tried reading various books and never fnished them because they just didn't click for me. For almost a year I have been hearing how wonderful teh Stephanie Meyer books are. I never read them because #1.when would I have time, nukber 2. I haven't found a book that peeks my interest since the rumors of wars books, 3. everyone was reading them and I didn't want to copy everyone. Finally my friend Becca got me very intersted in them. I bought Twilight last monday and finished it on Wed. I had withdrawls and had to get New Moon on friday and finished it last night. The books are awesome. I highly reccomend them and seriously couldn't put them down.

Happy Birthday Emmalee

2008-03-09T23:54:00.002-07:00

Emmalee Monique Price 3/10/2004

I cannot believe that you are 4! I swear it was just yesterday that you were born. From day one you proved to be strong and feisty. You never give up on anything that you try and even if you have to try a million times until you get it right.I truly admire that about you. Your smile and laugh and quick wit can brighten any room up. You have a wonderful talent of making friends and you love everyone. You are so creative and can find something fun to do with just about everything. Whether it be making a fort out of a cardboard box or playing princess with the shampoo bottles in the tub. Your imagination is boundless. I feel so blessed, happy and lucky to have your for my daughter. I love the strong mother daughter bond that we share and I enjoy seeing it grow stronger everyday. I love you more each and everyday!

Love,

Mama

Mike is related to Mitt Romney!

2008-03-08T00:10:00.002-07:00

I got this email from my mom this morning (my om is a huge geneology buff):

Patti, Mike is related to MItt Romney and Marion G. Romney. Mitt's real name is Willard Mitt Romney. Tonight I got out the copy of your mother in law's genealogy for the Day family. Mary Ann "Minnie" Romney is Mike's 2nd great grandmother. She married Willard Farr. Mary Ann's father was Miles Park Romney. Miles is Mike's 3rd great grandfather, and Mitt Romney's Great grandfather. Mike and MItt are 2ND COUSINS 2 TIMES REMOVED. It means two generations removed. Isn't that cool.

Pretty cool huh!? They are pretty closely relatd isn't it crazy?

Book tag

2008-03-04T23:56:00.003-07:00

I was tagged by my cousin-in-law Tiffanye!!

The Rules...

1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages). Faith of Our Fathers Volume One, A House Divided.

2. Turn to page 123

3. Find the 5th sentence

4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog

"Looking upon the whole of it, Emily wished with all he heart for a moment that belonged to her, Ruth, Mary Rose and Joshua."

I just started reading it but it is really good!

5. I Tag Tiffany Larsen, Teanne, Tiffany Dansie, Ashby, Amanda

Fishing at Canyon Lake! Mommy and Sissy date and Mike's Snow Campout

2008-03-03T22:39:00.002-07:00

Okay get ready for LOTS of pictures..sorry...actually why am I apologizing, it's my blog, lol.

Mommy and Sissy Date:
On Friday I suprised Emmalee by taking her to go see Enchanted. If you have not seen it you HAVE it. It is such a cute movie and will entertain Mama and daughter. Afterwards I took ehr and bought her a little necklace at the store right by the dollar theater at SS mall (haha not really $1 anymore). Then she had to play by the fountain. Luckily she didn't fall in, lol. She fell in last summer, lol. Then we went and got ice cream. It was very fun.

I feel like I am so busy lately that Emmalee and I don't get the quality time we need. Peyton has either been sick and teething or I was sick for 3 weeks too, plus carpools, t-ball, errands, activity days and all I do for Mike's scout activities (a wife really should be set apart for that calling too) and household stuff overwhelm my life at the moment. I love that little girl so much and feel very blessed to have her. I am trying to make a goal of having a bit of quality time everyday, even if it is just reading a couple of books. So I was so excited for that day and it was great!

Fishing at Canyon Lake:

Saturday the whoel family took off to canyon lake for some fishing. We didn't catch much, Mike and Emmalee both caugh scrawny blue gills that we released back to the lake. Still we had so much fun! It was a nice relaxing day where I didn't have to worry about the chores, etc. We left at sundown and went to a new restaraunt by our house called Chilernos...really yum, though the kids menu was pricey. Now the kids want to go fishing all the time. We plan on going again next month and hopefully we will be grilling fish fr dinner instead of eating out!

Mike took his Deacon Scout troop up by the dump in strawberry for a snow campout. It ended up being a not so good time, due to one of the scout's bad attitudes, but I had to show the fort they made!

Here is Peyton in his playpen. I got him out a lot but he seemed pretty content in his playpen.

Mike's fish:

Emmalee's fish: she was so proud! Also a bit evil she kept going up to it saying sweetly "Hello fish how are you?/ We are gonna eat you!"

Here are a few of Peyton too. Sorry about the nudity but this was too cute. He crawled away while I was grabbing a diaper and played with the vacuum. It wasn't so cute when he peed on the floor, lol.

here he is sleeping!

Oh and I started weight watcher's meetings again almost 2 weeks ago and I have lost 6lbs so far! I chose to get 12 weeks prepaid fr my anniversary present. I know I can do it with the meetings since I lost so much before. I also started walking again. I had a month long hiatas while I was sick and Peyton was sick. He had an ear infection and terrible teething..6 teeth at once..Yikes! So needless ot say it was like having a newborn..only worse. My babies only wake up at 2 am and 6 am from birth so 3-6 times a night sucked. He is feeling better now thank goodness.

Happy Birthday Peyton!

2008-02-21T16:29:00.002-07:00

I am in denial but Peyton is one today!

Happy First Birthday Peyton!!

2/21/2007

I cannot believe that you’re one! A year ago I thought you were never going to get out! I had you the day before your due date, which for me was like being a few weeks over due. I was so happy the morning I went into labor. You have added even more happiness to my life.

Your birth was not without its obstacles. I will forever thank Heavenly Father that he gave you a quick recovery. Your cord was wrapped around your neck tight and you were pretty blue and not breathing well. When I saw them giving you air my heart sank. I have NEVER been more scared in my life. You had to spend a day in the special care nursery and I was in there every chance I could. Thankfully you were A-OK!!

I don’t care what they say, even though I wasn’t able to hold you till you were 5 hours old, I am just as bonded with you if not more than normal. I cannot even begin to express my love for you! Your smile brightens any room in and your laugh is the best mood enhancer in the world. You have always been really sweet and really easy. I am blessed. Everywhere we go you are full of smiles for everyone. I am constantly being told that I have the sweetest, happiest baby.

I love every stage you hit. I am always saying don’t change with each new stage, but you do. Then find myself saying the same thing again, because I love you more with each new development. Although, you didn’t have to turn one! You can stay 11 mos. Forever, I wouldn’t object!

Happy Birthday Peyton!

Love, Mommy, Daddy, Dawson and Emmalee

Here are some pics of Peyton's first year.

Been a while since I updated

2008-02-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

Okay I have been told that I need to do a family update. So here we go...

Mike is working hard at work, in his Scoutmaster position and back to playing basketball. I am so bummed that the games are so late. I miss watching him play. I remember him being really good, and a friend in our ward was telling me how good he sill is. Go Mike! He really enjoys it.

Dawson is a busy 1st grader. Mike and I went to his parent-teacher conference last friday. His teacher said he is top of the class with an overall grade of 97%! He said he is reading at a 3rd grade level and is very bright and capable of going far. He is so excited to be starting T-Ball next month. Our primary president is coaching and a lot of the kids between 4 and 6 will be playing on the team.

Emmalee is busy, busy, busy! She and I have had some rough times lately. I think she is getting bored at home. Our JoySchool has been on hiatis for a while and hopefully we can get that going again soon. She needs it. I can't believe that it is time to look at preschools for her. You bet you hiney she will be going to preschool in the fall. I have just started working with her on reading and writing,,mostly just the letter sounds. I am wanting to get this book that is clle Headstart with the Book of Mormon. It says that you can use the Book of Mormon to teach your child to read and write. I am game to try it and get some more scripture reading in during the process.

It has been a very different experience teaching Emmalee. I found that with Dawson I could spend forever on a subject or game. Emmalee has at the most a 10 minute time frame before she loses her attention. So I have to find time to do things in little bursts and everyday life lessons with her.

She started Primary in January and loves it. They started going in to Primary this month and she thinks she is it because she is in "Dawson's class for a little bit". So far, as much as I know, she is behaving.

Peyton will be 1 on Feb. 21st. I am soo in denial. My baby cannot be turning 1! Since New Years ever he has cut 6, yes 6 teeth! He cut them all by the end of January! Needless to say he hasn't exactly been his cheery, happy self lately..especially at night. I hope we can get a break for a few months before his molars or bottom eye teeth cut through. I probably jinxed mysef now though, lol.

He isn't walking yet. I think he will be a late walker like his sister. I have noticed that my 2 kids that crawled early (Emmmlee 6.5 mos and Peyton 5.5 mos) seem to follow the trend of walking late While Dawson crawled at 8 mos which is pretty normal (though he was cruising at 7 mos..not sure how that came first?) and walked just a few weeks after his first birthday. Emmalee walked right at 15 mos..she could have before but anyone who knows her knows how stubborn she is. Since we were coaxing her to walk, she decided to wait.

On a sad note our dog Mugzy died. He died right after the superbowl last week. He was old, but it was heartbreaking to see Dawson's reaction. he cried all night. It was the first time one of my kids was hurting and there was nothing I could do to make it better. It is amazing how resilient kids are though. By Tuesday he was over it. We will miss Mugzy. He was such a great dog. The kids could pull and prod and even ride him and he didn't care. He was so gently and loved Dawson. You could tell Dawson was his favorite.

I have been busy and then not so much. I have had many sewing and jewelry projects, playdates, house projects, regular mom stuff (aka the stinky housework). Then 1.5 weeks ago I got sick and teh dang cold still isn't gone. I am feeling soooo much better this morning than I have in days and I feel like I can finally get back to doing te normal everyday stuff, but I still have a trce of the cold. It is not wanted and needs to leave immeadiatly!!

I sold a diaper bag! I am so excited to get that finished and out. I think I am done selling on Ebay and Etsy. I used to have great luck selling on Ebay, but it is too competitive and pricey now. I wish I knew a place with better luck for selling. MY hope is when Mike finds out about the new job that I can finally put some of my stuff in a boutique shop. I love any excuse to make things!

I am annoyed with politics at the moment. I am really disapointed with how the elections are working out. This nation is in for some toruble no matter who wins now. Sorry if I sound like a downer, but I feel it is true.

Well that is all for now.

Tagged by Tiffany Larsen

2008-02-10T00:55:00.000-07:00

10 years ago:
My mom had just married a moron :, I was in college and working on moving out

Snacks I enjoy:
chocolate, chips and salsa, popcorn

Five things on my to-do list:
1)Laundry 2) clean the house (I have been sick for a week so it is bad, even with Mike helping clean) 3)finish Emmalee's sleeping beauty dress from december :) 4)make my friend's diaper bag 5)Oh and get welll. This cold just keeps getting worse.

Things I would do if I were suddenly made a billionaire:
Pay Tithing, Pay off our debts aka..house and student loans, Pay off any family's debts, get a newer house, newer (not brand new) cars, Invest in our kids futures, travel.

Three of my bad habits:
1)Over Eating 2)losing my temper 3)biting my nails

Five places I have lived:
1)Mesa, az 2) Phoenix, az 3) Gilbert, AZ 4) Flagstaff, AZ 5)Provo, UT

Jobs I have had:
exec assistant, cashier at walgreens, preschool teacher, mailroom worker, bagging girl at fry's, shift manager at chic-fil-a, the dreaded telemarketer, and a Momma for 6.5 years!

Things people don't Know about me:
I am not sure. I know some people don't believe that I have a temper but I do! With certain things it can be a short temper too. I do need to work on that. I hate large crowds, I am boring because I can't think of much else.

I tag anyone who wants to do this!

Very Sad Day for Conservatie Republicans

2008-02-07T12:58:00.001-07:00

I have never been much for politics until now. I saw how bad our country has gotten in the last eight years (actually more than that). I knew that this years race would be extremely important. I was gonna vote for McCain until I found out some things I really do not like, then I heard about Mitt Romney. I was cautious about giving him my vote.

I am also Mormon and so I wanted more than that reason to vote for him. WE here in Arizona saw how that backfired when Evan Mecham was elected Governor. Alt of people in my ward growing up voted for him based on his faith. I am proud to say my parent's didn't vote for him. We all know how that ended.

So I really delved into the candidates and I agree with Mitt on all his issues. I was so happy to see a very conservative republican running. It really makes me sad that so many people would agree with Mitt on his issues but instead vote for someone they didn't agree with, someone who is so far liberal he should be a democrat..just because Mitt is a mormon. Last I checked we do not have horns growing out of our heads and we are great people with great morals.

Mike called me and gave me the news that Mitt conceeded. Growing up everything made me cry. I have toughened over the years and it takes alot to make me cry. Well I cried today. I understand why he did it, but it just makes me so sad that he was in that circumstance to conceed.

I just hope Mitt will run again in 2012 when people see they need someone like him to fix america!

My friend Ashby and her friend started an awesome blog for Mitt and she said it all far more eloquently than I could:

http://romneyrevolution.blogspot.com/

Better duck — if you're a Mormon

2008-01-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

A friend on one of the boards that I frequent posted this an I really like it!

Better duck — if you're a Mormon
*By Doug Robinson *
Deseret Morning News

I missed the memo that said it's A-OK to make disparaging and often
erroneous statements about Mormons. Apparently, they are fair game.

Sure, these are hypersensitive times, when name-calling or perceived bias against any group will get you the Don Imus treatment, but you get a free shot with Mormons. You can say what you want about them with impunity.

If you denigrate a racial group, you're racist.

If you denigrate women, you're sexist.

If you denigrate Mormons, you're hip.

No one would openly suggest that you shouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton
because a woman can't lead the country, especially an ornery one.

Nobody would dare say that you shouldn't vote for Barack Hussein Obama
because he's black, or of Muslim descent, or because he has a name that
sounds like a terrorist. One Clinton worker even apologized for alluding to
Obama's use of drugs as a youth, so apparently it's wrong to disparage
former drug users, too.

But nobody is shy about saying you shouldn't vote for Romney simply because he's a Mormon. It doesn't even register on the PC-O-Meter.

Just like that, 6 million Americans have been virtually disqualified from
running for president. They've been rendered second-class citizens. They're foreigners living in America. They face a glass ceiling.

How un-American is that?

It would be one thing if most of those who oppose Romney did so because they disagreed with his politics or character. But Romney is one of the few
candidates who has no character issues, a "squeaky clean" man who has a distinguished record of accomplishments, success and service, with no
divorces, no affairs, no scandal. The only thing opponents can say about him is that he belongs to a church they don't understand.

A Harvard law professor called Romney the most qualified of all the
candidates and "the perfect candidate for this moment in time." But there is his Mormonism, he noted.

Even the self-styled PC chief of police, Al Sharpton, once jumped in on the
action, saying, "As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really
believe in God will defeat him anyways."

Mormons don't believe in God?

For his penance, all Sharpton had to do was endure a family home evening in Utah.

It's open season on Mormons. A few days ago, Miami Herald columnist Dan Le Batard stated on ESPN and in the newspaper that part of the reason fired coach Cam Cameron failed was because he got stuck with a Mormon quarterback — not a rookie quarterback (which he is) but a Mormon quarterback.

"And you'll have a hard time finding a leader anywhere in sports who was as unlucky this year as Cameron," Le Batard said, noting that because of
injuries, Cameron was forced to play "a United Nations huddle of a Mormon quarterback, Mexican receiver, Samoan fullback and some guy named Lekekekkkkerkker."

Now Mormons are foreigners?

Ignorance makes no difference. You can say Mormons have four wives or that they aren't Christian, and no one cares.

Imagine the uproar if Le Batard had written that the Dolphins suffered
because they had to play a black quarterback for part of the season? Or a
Catholic?

Nobody seems to mind when former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says his religion "defines me." Or when Obama says his church guides "my own values and my own beliefs."

People worry that Romney will take his orders from his church leaders. They don't worry that Obama will take orders from his church, whose "10-point vision" includes two references to its "non-negotiable commitment to Africa," with no mention of America. Oh, and the church statement begins by noting on the Trinity United Church of Christ Web site, "We are a
congregation which is Unashamedly Black."

It's a different set of rules for some out there. You can print newspaper
cartoons disparaging Mormons. You can harass their families as they walk to their biannual conference with all sorts of foul language. When someone
commits a crime, you can note the criminal's religion, but only if he's
Mormon. You can make them a one-liner on Leno. Good luck reconciling all this with the paranoid political correctness that's so in vogue.

Meanwhile, the most politically correct presidential election field ever
assembled — a woman, a black, a Mormon, a Baptist, etc. — has gone
politically incorrect, but only when it comes to you know who.

We will Miss President Hinckley

2008-01-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

I LOVE this cute old man! He is my favorite Prophet and he did so much for our church.

One thing that has always stuck out to me is that I don't think he has missed a conference due to illness. I remember growing up that President Benson was always too ill to speak so someone else would read his talks for him. President Hinckley was so healthy for his age and so funny and sweet. He became more personal to me because of that.

I love thinking of all the many people that he brought Temple ordainences too and how many families have had the privilidge to be sealed. I am sure many may havethought they would never get that chance until he had all tho Temples built.

He brought the gospel out to the world with all of his interviews and cleared up some misconceptions about the church.

I love all of his qoutes and childhood stories, especially the B's.

He definently left a wonderful legacy for or church. I will miss him and I have cried a few times, but then I get this picture of him in myhead and realize that he would not want us to cry. He is happy where he is, but he will be missed here. Though I cried the worst telling my 6 yr old because he didn't understand.

My newest creation!

2008-01-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

I made this last week. I have been wanting one with these materials for a while, though since I did it without a pattern or instructions it came out bigger than I had planned. I do like it big now that I have used it though.

I love sewing, I make a TON of mistakes, but I learn and still enjoy it!

My 12 Week Weight-Loss Challenge: Week 1

2008-01-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

Okay so I have been walking for a month now and I am getting back on the toning wagon (Took a 2 Week Break). I am walking 3 days a week for 20-30 minutes. We are working up to 1.5 miles now. I am also doing Lindsey Brin's PostNatal BootCamp. I love this video! Anyways she has a 12 week plan and I restarted today. I decided to help me become more dedicated I will document the next 12 weeks.

Here I am today, sorry, lol:

My Weight is 240..yikes!

My waist is 46"
Chest "47
Arms 14"
Thighs 28"
Hips 55"

Yeah I definently do not have that hourglass figure I used to, lol. Anyways I am making a promise to myself that I am sticking to it this time. I can't use the excuse that I just had a baby anymore since my baby is almost 1, lol. So here I go.

I will probably announce here and there when I have a great weight-loss week, but for the most part I will just report my inches and weight loss every 4 weeks. Anyone else up for the challenge?

Holiday Picture Time..way too many pics!

2008-01-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

We had a nice holiday season. I have some pics of Christmas, our ward christmas party, family party, Dawson's party at school, etc. Sorry there are so many.

Here are sme from our ward Christmas Party. This is Emmalee and her best friend Miriam Llyod (They are so 2 peas in a pod, it is too cute!)

The crowd got to crowdy so Mike didn't get a good one of Dawson or Peyton with Santa :(

I didn't get many of my family party but these are of Peyton and his cousin Adalynn (My Brother Billy's daughter) who is just 3 months younger than him. They LOVE eachother, it is so cute!

These are from Dawson's school holiday party. His teacher gave them a golden ticket the day before the party and told them to bring it back the next day. They were also to wear Jammies. Four of us mom's came in a decorated a tree while they were at there pep assembly. Their little eyes lit up when they saw the tree. Then his teacher asked them all to bring their golden ticket so they could watch the polar express. So we had hot chocolate, goodies and watched movie it was fun! I love volunteering at school!
Dawson and his friend Dillion:

Scary pic of me!

Here are our holiday pics. Mike spent 3 days making this dollhouse for Emm. Didn't he do an awesome job??!! She LOVES it! Here are a few of Emmalee. I wasn't able to get pictures of her opening everything becuse I had my little comnd crawler getting away from me. Mike was no help since he had the camcorder.

Dawson was spoiled with a telescope, microscope and 3 Wii games.

oh and a Peyton Manning Football (no my husband is not a huge Colts fan or anything, lol)
Peyton got a Hippo walker and a ball popper!!

Here are pics of them after sprinkler reindeer food (glitter and oatmeal) and checking to see if they ate it the next morning!

Then my best friend came in from North Carolina on Christmas eve. She suprised me by coming over on Christmas. It was pretty funny we both just cried and cried. Then the next day we went to Cafe Rio (our fave place when we were roomates in Utah) and had lunch and went to Mervyn's to window shop). That night all our friends from highschool and college got together (3 of the couples married from within our clique). It was so fun and I think there are 13 or 14 kids between all of us. We hadn't all been together in 8 years. Some of us get together here and there but with some living out of state it was pretty special.. Our kids get along so well. and here they are!

We also went to Bass Pro Shop (My husbands sanctuary). It was so fun and the kids loved all the fish and animals!

Here are some of our decorations!

Sorry so late and sorry so many!

I stole this, A marriage quiz

2008-01-08T07:37:00.000-07:00

I saw this on Melisa Hale's blog. I hope you don't mind that I stole it.

What is his name: Mike
How long have you been married: 8 years this March...holy Cow!
How long did you date: 5.5 mos, hehehe
How old is he? 30
Who eats more? Depends on what it is
Who said I love you first? He did.
Who is taller? He is. He is a good 9 inches taller
Who sings better? I do, he isn’t musically inclined :)
Who is smarter? We always say we are a perfect fit. I am book smart and fact smart, he is mechanically and mathematically smarter than I am by far.
Whose temper is worse? Mike for sure
Who does the laundry? We share that responsibility thank goodness because laundry for a family of 5 is monsterous! I can't believe how much difference 1 baby can make!
Who does the dishes? Me and the kids
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? THAT WOULD BE HIM

Who Cooks Dinner? Both of us! We take turns

Who drives when you are together? Mike because he is a huge back-seat driver with me, grr
.
Who is more stubborn? That would be both of us!

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Depends on the situation. Usually when he has been wrong within a few hours he will apologize. I apologize faster for sure though
Whose parents do you see the most? It is a tie since they both live out of town
Who has more friends? Me for sure!
Who has more siblings? We both have 4
Who wears the pants in the family? He does mainly but if I feel strongly about something I usually get him to see my way ;)
I now tag: Everyone!

12 Months About Me

2007-12-10T23:57:00.000-07:00

12 months about me!

I saw this on another blog thought it was fun!

♥JANUARY♥
1. Who kissed you on New Years? Mike ofcourse!
2. Did you have a New Year’s Resolution this year? To lose my weight after Peyton was born..hasn't happened yet
3. Does it snow where you live? No I wish it would a little bit
4. Do you like hot chocolate?.. yum! With whipped cream and marshmallows!
5. Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop? No-siree

♥FEBRUARY♥
1. Who was your Valentine? My hubby
2. When you were little did you buy Valentine’s for the whole class? Yes... I think it was mandatory
3. Do you care if the groundhog sees its shadow or not? no... I don't get that whole thing
4. What did you receive for Valentines Day? False labor for 5 hours, lol. Mike got me some cash to buy some beads to make a mother's bracelet.
What did you give for Valentine’s Day? I got him a watch

♥MARCH♥
1. Are you Irish? yes
2.Do you like corned beef and cabbage? corn beef yes, cabbage not so much, lol
3. What did you do for St. Patty’s Day in 2007? nada
4. Are you happy when winter is pretty much over? no becaue 80 and 90 degrees hits for spring here

♥APRIL♥
1. Do you like the rain? yes!
2. Did you play an April fool’s joke on anyone this year? no, I was too busy with a new baby and little sleep.
3. Do you get tons of candy for Easter? no the kids got a little though
4. Do you celebrate 4/20? no
5. Do you love the month of April? I like it fine

♥MAY♥
1. What is your favorite flower? tulips and daisies
What happened to 2 ?????
3. Finish the phrase “April showers…” bring May flowers!
4. Do you celebrate May 16th: National Piercing Day? uhm... no.
5. Is May anything special to you? Yes! Mother's day!!

♥JUNE♥
1. What year did/will you graduate from high school? 1995
2. Did you do anything fun during this Month? The kids and I went swimming and to the movies and all kinds of fun.
3. Have a favorite baseball team? The diamondbacks!

♥JULY♥
1. What did you do on the 4th of July? did arts and crafts with the kids, went to the mall and Emmalee fell in the fountain (she was fine though) and watched fireworks.
2. Did you go to the fireworks? heck yeah... we never miss them!
3. Did you blast the A/C all day? I live in AZ, do you have to even ask?? lol

♥AUGUST♥
1. Did you do anything special at the end of your summer? I created a Pirate themed bday party for Dawson's 6th bday.
2. What was your favorite summer memory of ‘07? Camping
3. Did you have a sunburn? yep, I am a major whitey!
4. Did you go to the pool a lot? yes!

♥SEPTEMBER♥
1. Will you be attending college/school? I have now taken a year off and who knows how much longer, lol.
2. Do you like fall better than summer? um yah, weather is under 100 degrees
3. Plan on anything to happen this month? no not really

♥OCTOBER♥
1. What was your last Halloween costume? I was Cinderella's (Emmalee) Fairy Godmother
2. What is your favorite candy? chocolate
3. What was your favorite thing(s) about this month? I love Halloween!

♥NOVEMBER♥
1. Whose house do you go to for Thanksgiving? my mom's this year
2. What are you thankful for? my family and friends
3. Do you love stuffing? yum. yes!

♥DECEMBER♥
1. Do you celebrate Christmas? Yes
2. Have you ever been kissed under the mistle toe? yes!!!
3. Get anything special last year? I got new dishes!
4. What do you want this year? I got my sewing machine and I would love an Ipod docking stereo or alarm clock!

Sorry about double pics

2007-12-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

I never realized that you have to unclick the pics after you generate a link on photobucket, grrr. I promise it won't happen again, i hope, lol.

Okay more pics!

2007-12-08T10:04:00.000-07:00

Mike took these before church a fe weeks ago. Ignore our ghetto looking bed. I had the bedding in the wash, lol.

Here are pics from Emm's winter dance recital. It was too hard to get pics of the actual dance pieces since Peyton was in my arms and Mike had the camcorder in his hands. I will have Mike get the video on the pc soon.:

This is her and her tecaher Lissa Peterson:

Here she is with Rory:

This is Emm and Arwyn. They were a bit cranky because they bonked heads during the recital. Dance was so fun and Arwyn and another girl named Brooklyn are daughters of Melissa Hale (Burdick) and Lucia (maiden name is Pember not sure of her married name, lol). Mike grew up with them in St John's and I was roomates with Brooklyn's aunt Anna and Melissa's Cousin Collette in college. So it was great having them in the same class and seeing our kids together!

And her she is before we left!

here are pics from Peyton's first unsupported bathtub bath! He loved it! My baby is not allowed to grow anymore!

Here is Peyton in his fave toy, his jumperoo. He tuckered himself out!

Here is my pretty girl!

Here is Emmalee with Cameron Dansie. His mom and I have a weekly playdate swap. One of us takes the others kid and the other one gets a much needed break. Although even when I have Cameron over it is a break because he and Emmalee play really well together that I can get a lot done!

My New Toy!

2007-12-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

Well there is one great thing about turnining twenty-ten this month, my birthday present! I got a manual, basic starter sewing machine last year. Once I got to where I was sewing a lot, I hated it. It had the worst tension ever, and was noisy and just sucked! So I wanted new sewing machine bad. I went to Joann's and "test drove" machines. I fell in love with this one. It is so quiet, it's electric and has auto pressure and tension. It sews straight (my old one didn't). I am in love!

Anyways Mike got it for me for my birthday. Well Mike, my mom and stepdad and my inlaws (I pooled my bday moneyand christmas money from all of them for it) I knew about it and anticipated it coming even though I knew I wouldn't get it till my bday ( 12/21). Well I was out getting dinner when it came. I came in and the kids were so excited and begging me to open it (it was cute!). Mike said "Sweety do you really want to wait till your birthday to open it?" I am sure I gave him a "duh!" look, lol.

Then he brought out a smaller package that said GPS on it. I had ordered him a GPS for hunting and scouts and was hoping to suprise him. Well it came in the same UPS order as my machine. He told me if I let him open it then I can have my machine before my bday. So yah, I gave in!

I love it! There are so many decorative stitches, it sews straight and quiet and I love it! I am working on a project now and when it is finished I will post it!

It's Go Time!

2007-12-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

I have been feeling a bit down lately and I knwo the culprit is my weight. I can't afford to do Weight Watchers right now and so I needed some sort of support or motivation. I tried with different friends and having a weigh in w/ my husband once aweek but I was still slacking. Then I thought about a good friend of mine, Tiffany Dansie. She is the picture of health and fitness. I realized I had been going to people for support who were in my shoes and that just doesn't work because they all slack like me. So I called her and got a lot of great advice.

I am borrowing a workout DVD that she has been telling me about for ages. It s Lindsay Brin's Post natal workout. It seems cool because it is totally customizable for variety and different fitness levels. I am excited to start it tomorrow.

Her best suggestion is going to be he hardest. You see I am what some would call a night owl. So after I see Dawson off to school at 7 am, Emmalee, Peyton and I lay back down for another 1-1.5 hours. I think it has been a mental block since I haven't wanted to try or get started that early. I know that that would be the best time for me to workout. It may sound like no big deal to some but this is going to be so hard for me. I have a feeling it is gonna take a lot of prayer.

I think this will be good for me and I am glad that I have a friend like Tiffany who has acheived her goal and is in great shape to help me without judging me. She is great!

Anyways I am going to post a weekly update on my weight and how I am doing.

We are alive and well, lol

2007-12-01T00:28:00.000-07:00

I was informed by a few friends that I am a blog slacker. So, I decided I would drop a few lines and let everyone now I am alive. I have just been busy working on Christmas sewing projects, jewelry and normal life (aka going crazy lol.). The kids are doing awesome. Peyton is attempting to pull-up and can get up to his knees. I am scared! He said his firstw ord last month..."Mama"!! Mike didn't believe me until one day he was taking care of him and he was very fussy. He saw me and reached out his hands crying "Mama, Mama". I was so happy that Mike conceded. Two of our kids have said Mama first! (Emm and Peyton). He also says "Baba" for bottle and that is it. He is also getting a bit of an attitude. I cannot believe my baby is almost one. I have spoiled him. I still rock him to sleep. I know I need to stop soon, but he doesn't act spoiled (yet) so I keep doing it. He is so much fun! Dawson is breezing thru first grade. he is reading like a 2nd or 3 grader (I am not just saying it because I am his mom either..from his teacher's mouth!) he is starting to do simple multiplying, he can tell time on a hand clock, and he can carry and borrow with subtraction and adding. He is awesome! Emmalee is my drama queen as always. She is so much fun and we hav had a lot of fun Barbie adventures. All she wants to do is play barbies with me now. It is a lot of fun, but man is that girl bossy! Mike is working hard as always. He loves his job nad his callng at church. He is awesome! That is about it. I will post some pics soon!

I have been tagged by Tiffany Dansie

2007-11-13T06:43:00.000-07:00

6 things about me. Hopefully I can think of 6 things, lol. I am pretty boring.

Let's see...

1. At first meeting (or second or even third) I may seem shy, but once I get to know someone that goes out the window.

2. I always bite off more than I can chew. I get big plans with projects and in my true nature, I procrastinate with a lot of them and then STRESS OUT! It drives Mike crazy.

3. I wore braces for 5 years (from 11-16). In my first highschool dance picture my date and I both flash some nice metal mouths.

4. I LOVE things clean and tidy but I am unfortunately an easily side-tracked, not organized minded person so it is an everyday battle to keep things neat and tidy and I don't always win.

5. Oh I am so excited to say that I lost 8 lbs last week!

6. I started college at 17. I got a nice head start but with changing majors a few times I still at 29 have not graduated. I have a TON of credits, but no degree yet. I took the last 3 semesters off because of being preggo and plan on taking at least one class again soon. I have a good 5-8 years before I could even use a degree anyways so I have time.

That was hard but those are 6 boring things about me, lol.

I tag Tiffany Larsen, Tiffany Hunt, Nicole Lopeman, Melanie Steyskal, Amy Holly and Amanda Segaburg.

Halloween Pictures!!!

2007-11-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

OKay sorry there are so many but deal with it, lol.

Here are pics of me and the kids. I decided at the last minute (like that morning) to make a fairy godmother tunic, to go w/ Emm's costume. Peyton was Charlie Brown and Dawson was obviously Superman.

Here is Dawson with two of his best friends Dylan and Bo and Dawson and Ian in the second:

Here are my MOnkeys together!

Emmalee with some of her friends! Aren's all of their costumes so cute!!??

Here are pumkin Carving Pics:

Here are pics right after I finished Emmalee's Cinderella dress:

Her dress was a big project. I was almost finished saturday night. I just ahd to put the puffs on and the skirt. Well I got stitches on the bodice and ruined it. So monday I had to start all over. I was in tears. I was sick so maybe I shouldn't have done anything. So tuesday night I somehow finished!!

We had a blast on halloween and can't wait till next year!

I know what I have to do...

2007-11-02T09:10:00.001-07:00

Okay so doing the weight loss on my own is not working. I had cut weight watcher's out of the budget months ago because things were tight. Well I made some adjustments in the budget and I am rejoining tomorrow. Not sure why but weight watchers meetings just kick my brain and motivation into gear. It sucks to ahve to pay $50/month but if it makes me lose my weight I have to do it. I hate feeling like this.

Sick, Sick, sickety sick!!

2007-10-28T14:11:00.000-07:00

I am so sick of someone in my house being sick. I know we are more succeptible to germs because Dawson is in school but come on. In the last 2 weeks I have had 2 colds,Mike, Emmalee, Dawson and Peyton have had the stomach flu, Peyton has had a cold (nothing serious, just lots of boogers) and last night the stomach flu hit me. I couldn't sleep last night and so I stayed home from church. My stomach doesn't hurt anymore but I still have the cold, not much appettite and I am achey, headachey amd light headed. We are supposed to have the missionaries over for dinner tonight. I feel so bad calling and cancelling, but Mike is going to bring them dinner. Then my mother-in-law and sister-in-law are coming for a few days. My house is trashed. Mike said when he gets back from his meetings he will clean the house. I love my husband.

Last night I wanted to finish Emmalee's dress. I was putting one of the puffs on the bodice and I messed up. My stitching was way too tight so now I have to go to Joann's tomorrow and get material to remake the bodice. I hope I can get it done by halloween.

Sorry such a negative post, just a bummer day.

One more

2007-10-26T00:34:00.000-07:00

Okay I know that losing weight is something I ahve to do all on my own, but someone please help me. I know what to do and I have been succesful before but I am having the hardest time sticking to weight watcher's w/out going to the meetings. I just cannot fit it into our budget at the moment. Anyways I need help with motivation. You would think that how I feel physically and mentally about it would be enough but it almost paralyzes me from doing anything. Does that even make sense?

I just know that I have about 6 mos to lose atleast 50 lbs before we TTC. I wanted to get preggo by the beginning of the year (am I crazy?? lol) but since I can't get my keester into gear I am not gonna be ready by then and I KNOW in my heart it is something that we cannot stall. It feels like it is almost time.

Anyways someone help me. I love eating healthy and I do eat a lot of healthy food. It is just I get up and get so busy that I grab whatever whenever I can and don't keep track, If I could get some motivation I know I could do well. I want to feel energetic again and feel like putting make up on and have fun wearing cute clothes and enjoy getting ready to go somewhere and most of all I want to feel like Patti again. Sorry to whine. I just feel trapped.

Sorry about the multiple pics. I am too lazy to fix it!

2007-10-26T00:32:00.001-07:00

n/m

Mike's Bday!

2007-10-26T00:15:00.000-07:00

We had a lot of fun!! Last night I wrote this message in soap on his window!! I figured that I know he will give me a hard time on my bday so I might as well give him one too, lol.

Here are some pictures of the kids giving him his present from them. Shawn Marion is his favorite player so we had to give him this plus the hat for tonight's game. I took him to a Sun's game for his present and I also bought him a Peyton Manning jersey that I gave him the day I bought it...2 mos ago, lol. I am so bad at keeping suprises for him.

Then we went to the Sun's game!! It was so awesome and it went down to the last minute but the Sun's won!! I LOVE basketball so much and watching a basketball game with Mike is one of my favorite things to do with with him(or football and baseball..but especially basketball). Yes Mike has started to get me interested in football..it only took 8 years, lol.

We were way up there, but it was still awesome!!

While we were there we signed up to do a timeshare presentation. There is no way we could afford to do a time share. But for going we will get entered into a drawing for courtside seats, we will get sun's suite tickets for a game next month and $50 for dinner. So I will sit thru a time share presentation for that.

MIke and I had a blast! I love him so much!

Here are some random pics of the kids I took last night.

Happy Birthday Mike 10/25/1977

2007-10-24T19:26:00.000-07:00

Mike is 30 tomorrow. I knew I wouldn't have time tomorrow to post so here I am today. Mike is a wonderful husband and father. He has made so many sacrafices for our family. For years he was working 2 jobs and going to school a bit just so that I could stay home with the kids. I am so thankful for that gift he gave us.

I know this sounds cheesy but I am so glad that I married my best friend. We have fun no matter what we do. He always knows how to get me laughing when I am down. He brought out the very best in me from the day I met him. He taught me what trust and unconditional love is.

He is so talented in many ways. He is a whiz at fixing cars and doing home improvement projects. He also is amazing at his job and I am so proud of him for all that he has accomplished.

He is so helpful around the house and with the kids. I don't know what I would do without the help he gives..especially now that we have 3 kiddos. He is a very unselfish person.

The very best gift he has given me is our 3 beautiful kids!

Mike I love you!

I am taking him to the Suns vs The Nuggets game tomorrow for his birthday. I can't wait!