Just thoughts

No pictures today (although my camera is FINALLY fixed YAY!), just a few thoughts...

We have struggled for a bit, wondering where we are supposed to be in life.  It finally feels like things are starting to fall into place.  It's such a sigh of relief.  Sometimes if feels like your life changes overnight, sometimes your life actually does change overnight.  Things just seem clear to me today.

Mom started radiation again.  Don't let her strength fool you, this is DEFIANTLY taking a tole on her.  She continues to amaze me and I am constantly reminded that in my 28 years thus far she has blessed and enriched my life so much more than most people get in a lifetime.  I had an experience this weekend and I have them often where I say to myself, or to my husband, "I'm so glad my Mom is not like that." or "My Mom would never do that." or "My Mom would never say that."  She's such a great example to me, I hope I'm half the Mother she is.

I was blessed to have a couple of days home with the girls this week.  It's where my heart is.  Brinley had parent teacher conferences.  So proud of her!  It's been a lot of fun to see her progress this year.

Project bathroom is almost done, YAY!  Project bathroom is just this idea I have had in my head and as it's coming together I'm really loving it! I sorta want to move in there, I find myself walking in there for no reason.  It's so cool how the space you are in can make you feel, how beautiful things can bring you joy.  In essence, I'm surrounding myself with beautiful things, my entire life... cause that's what makes me happy.

Today in the car on my drive out to Paradise I realized just how beautiful that drive is.  It just feels so much different to be driving that way.  I guess I took it for granted because it's just how I grew up. Shortly after entering Paradise I neared the place that Dustin and Brinley were snowmobiling.  I could see them in the distance and as I got closer I could just feel their happiness.  I could see it.  Dustin was pulling Brinley's sled behind him and she fell of and was just laughing.  I was so grateful in that moment, so proud that THEY were my family, so blessed to have such and amazing Father for my children.  Last night Dustin took Brinley on a Daddy Daughter Date and today, out of the blue she says to me, "Last night was so much fun!"

I'm just feeling blessed.  So many things to be thankful for.  On a side note, I don't know what that stuff is that I have spent the past hour making, but it's defiantly not bread. Better go see if I can somehow make it resemble lunch for my family tomorrow.  Oh, they will be so excited!

2013, oh how we love you

In looking over the pictures in my phone I was reminded of what a great year this has been so far.  Things, although still busy, have slowed down enough for us to enjoy life again.  We have stuck to our weekly date night and weekly family night which means we have made some really great memories.  Although it's probably boring to read about, these are the things that make life enjoyable for us.  We are keeping things simple.  I've gotten rid of some toxic things in my life and concentrating more on how I spend my precious time.  I'm working really hard to keep my part time job, just that and have had to put my foot down a few times, thankfully I work with really great people who understand and care about me.  I've said, "no" to things that were good things, but not necessarily good for me at the time and I've said "yes" to better things like, reading two chapters of Ivy and Bean in one night and "Mom? can I push the little shopping cart."  or "Mom?  can I stay up late and help you make lunches?".  You know, the things that make life enjoyable.  To my real job.  The important one.  The one that matters.  The one that makes me feel like I have a purpose on this earth and that I'm right where I'm supposed to be.  The one that makes me feel in my core what true success is.  The one that pays me in laughter, smiles, laundry and dirty dishes.  The one that I love more than anything in this world.  So, here's a taste of what our year has been like so far...

Brinley started violin a few months ago.  So proud of her!  She seems to be catching on.  This is an instrument I would have never thought of, but she has shown interest in it for quite some time.  We assumed it was because Linds and Lora play, but when she started picking the violin out of songs we felt like we should let her try it.  My friend Heather teaches her.  She's really great, we love her.  When I asked Brinley why she wanted to play the violin her response was, "because it's so beautiful!"  

We went sleigh riding.  I won't name names, but some of us had more fun than others

We had a nice Sunday breakfast as a family.  We are good about eating our meals together, but never on Sunday mornings.  Dustin and I usually end up fasting every Sunday.  Not sure why I took a picture of this, probably to show off the flowers I bought for myself.  It's ok to buy flowers for yourself if you are just using them to decorate your house though, right?  It's not like I had them delivered to me. January was gloomy.  I needed something to brighten the house up a bit. 

Speeking of January.  We shoveled and shoveled and shoveled.  By we, I mainly mean Dustin.  I did go out to help him once, but Brinley and I ended up playing instead.

London's learning how to color

and we had a tea party in the hallway

We've supported our Aggie Gymnasts

We said goodbye to Curtis and Whitney.  Boo! We love and will miss them.  They have been so good to us and our girls. It seems everyone we are close to keeps moving. 

We went to dinner last week with the Cazier's to celebrate Steve's birthday.  We all met at the cemetery before.  This is a picture I wouldn't normally post, but I thought Dustin helping his Grandma in the background is so sweet... so him.

 We went out for Chinese food and I thought our fortunes were interesting...

 Dustin's: "You are soon going to change your present line of work."

and mine: "You have strong desire for a home and your family interests come first."

Humm...

Brinley and I have been weaving.  She decided to giver her first hot pad to her teacher.  

 We made a collage of the things that make us happy and hung them on the refrigerator. 

 I'm involved in a fun group of girls who get together and learn new things to help us be more self sufficient.  This month we made butter.  It was fun and helps me with my resolution to be more prepared.  

We have worked quite a bit this month on emergency preparedness.  We have new backpacks for our 72 hour kits, we've added a few new supplied to them, worked on our food storage and purchased more ammo.  Go us!  

Last fall it felt like I did enough canning to last a life time.  Apparently not, I ended up making jam the other day because we were all out.  

Well, that's pretty much the gist of it.  Sure makes for a happy life.  

If ever I need a smile

I have never posted videos on here because I blog for the soul purpose of being able to turn my history into a book, however if ever I need a smile, THIS sure does the trick...

Western Night... YEEHAW!

Brinley had a Western Night at her school so we put on our best western attire and kicked up our boots for some good ol' fashioned line dancing.  Such a fun night dancing with this cute little family of mine.

 And I must say, I was very pleased to see this hanging in my daughter's school...

Spotlight Family Style (My Hus-beyond)

So lucky to be a part of your life.  Here are just a few things I love about you...

1. Sometimes when I fall asleep on the couch he carries me to bed
2. He’s a great provider, he does an excellent job at making sure we have everything we need
3. He makes mistakes, but he always admits it and he does whatever it takes to make it right
4. He kisses my forehead
5. I don’t think there has ever been a time where someone was stuck on the side of the road that he didn’t stop to push or pull them out.  Ever. 
6. He tells me he loves me everyday
7. He built me a house
8. One time when I got to work there was a hot chocolate sitting on my desk waiting for me
9. He writes me love notes
10. He tickles me
11. He has pretty blue eyes
12. He has big muscles
13. He believes in God and it shows in his countenance
14. He’s the best Dad in the whole world
15. He works hard, really really hard
16. He lets me have whatever I want, honestly he does
17. He says, “I’m sorry” and he means it
18. When I don’t know what a word means, he usually does and if he doesn’t he’ll make something up
19. He laughs with me
20. He never leaves without kissing me
21. He’s a genuine good guy
22. He goes to the gym with me
23. He has a great smile
24. He hangs stuff on the walls for me and doesn’t complain no matter how many times I make him re-do it
25. He does dishes
26. and cleans toilets
27. He watches romance movies with me
28. Sometimes we read together in bed
29. He makes the bed
30. We go on really fun vacations together
31. One time we went camping in Logan and ended up in Vegas the next day
32. We play checkers together
33. He drinks my green smoothies no matter how healthy (gross) they are
34. He has bought me hundreds and hundreds of flowers
35. and picked some for me too
36. Thanks to him I own lots of diamonds
37. He doesn’t get mad at me.  Ever.  And if he does it doesn’t show. Ok, I’m sure he gets mad at me, but he’s really really patient.
38. He opens the door for me
39. He’s an excellent protector, I feel safe with him aka he has a gun and he knows how to use it.
40. Sometimes we dance in the kitchen
41. He’s a giver. He's always wanting to help someone out.
42. He checks in with me everyday via text, email or whatever.
43. He buys me random cards and gifts
44. He puts gas in my car
45. warms it up for me
46. and brushes the snow off for me when needed
47. He’ll go skinny dipping with me (ha ha)
48. He grocery shops with me… every week!
49. One time when I was pregnant I really wanted a pita so he went and got me one and brought it home to me.  I ate it and wanted another one so he went back and bought me another one.
50. We make cute babies! 

Sweet Simplicity

I love the simplicity of children!  Brinley has had a savings account since I was pregnant with her.  She goes to the bank with us.  She hands her money to the teller and states that she wants to put it in her savings account.  Today in the car out of the blue she asks, "Mom, what happens at the bank when our piggy banks get full?"  Love their simple little minds!

Christmas Day

 Santa came!  Brinley woke up and in her humble manor climbed into bed with us and said, "Mom, can I snuggle you?"  Dustin and I exchanged glances, then I asked her if she remembered what day it was.  "Yeah", she said, "It's Christmas"  I remember Christmas being a MUCH bigger deal when I was a kid, but I have to remember this is just Brinley's personality. She's humble, I can't think of a better word to describe it. So, we woke Lunnie, went into the living room and I'll be honest their "under joyment" was kind of disappointing.  The girls are simple.  They don't need or want for much.  We over did.  Brinley still wasn't feeling well.  We went to Steve and Jill's for our traditional Christmas breakfast that we all love so much and spent the afternoon at my parents.  Both girls slept through us opening presents there.  Sad!  So disappointing  but still a good day.  So many people love and spoil us.  My Mom amazes me.  I can't believe what she is able to accomplish.  I have always said that we should skip Christmas (Ok, not skip it... I LOVE Christmas) but we should keep it small and just go on a family vacation or do something fun as a family instead.  Maybe next year we'll actually do it, clearly the gifts don't matter much and if our 5 year old is unimpressed, what's the point?

Celebrating Christ in our Lives

Christmas was good.  I love that no matter how much our lives have changed, how so many things are so different from the way they used to be, some things are exactly the same.  I love traditions.  I love it when things feel normal.  Christmas was peaceful.  We go to my parents on Christmas Eve.  We had a nice dinner.  Once a year Dad play for us.  It all felt just like it does every year and I love that. Tavie choreographed a dance, her and Abi performed it.  I'm was super impressed!  We love to go to Grandma Cazier's afterwards.  Jill gets out her guitar and we sing carols, Linds and Lora (Just Lora this year) play their violins.   It was just a really good night.  Christmas Eve is my favorite!  Our poor girls weren't feeling too great. This Christmas Eve was just a simple memory that means so much to me, tucked away now in the book of life.

Our December (Part Two)

We met some of my family at the tabernacle so the kids could see the nativity.  When I was younger, this was one of my favorite things... still is.  I'm a Christmas girl.  Love it! Then we walked across the street to the Blue Bird and my parents treated us to hot chocolate and ice cream.  I love that our kids get to make so many great memories together.

 Then finally, some we had a few days off.  We planned a weekend to Salt Lake so we could take the girls to see the lights.  Brinley was feeling a little better, but not quite up to par.  We still enjoyed our long weekend.  The lights at Temple Square are really amazing!  So beautiful!  Our friends recommended Estes and since we LOVE New York style pizza, we had to try it!  It was really good, but of course nothing compares to Lombardi's.

We stayed at the Radison.  It's really nice, but we won't ever stay there again.  We refuse to support a place that has porn so accessible to children and just so accessible in general.  We headed back to the hotel at about 9:00 and since Brinley wasn't feeling so great we thought we would just watch a Christmas movie.  There is something seriously wrong with society!  How is it ok to just turn the TV on and be exposed to that whether you want it or not?  Thankfully Brinley didn't catch it, we don't know how on earth we would have explained that to our 5 year old.  When we complained (not to get our money back, but to protect our children and other children from a very sick and dangerous thing) the response we got was, "We try to meet all of our clients needs."   Like I said, it was a great weekend and a really nice hotel, but the Radison will no longer be seeing us.

The girls loved swimming, we did quite a bit of shopping then Malinda had us over for some yummy homemade chili.  Dustin was able to see most of his family and they spoiled our kids.  It was such a fun weekend and a much needed break!

Our December (Part One)

We had been gearing ourselves up for a crazy December.  It was pure madness!  My life pretty much looked like this:

And I don't even know what Dustin's life looked like.  It felt like we NEVER saw him!  But looking back we were still able to make some pretty great memories last month.

Brinley took it upon herself to decorate for us (looks like they call it a tree skirt for a reason).

I try to get a picture of my kids in front of the Christmas tree and this is the best I got.  Whatever.  I'm so over not having my camera!  I hate blurry cell phone pitctures and that brown overlay in all of them!  

 (Technically this happened in November)  Like I said, we were gearing up for a crazy December. 

 Dustin had to work late so the girls and I walked over to the Live Nativity.  It's just across the street at the barn my girls absolutely love!  They always love seeing the animals and the camel they bring in for the nativity is always fun.  London especially loved the wagon ride.  

Brinley got to decorate her very own Christmas tree in her room.

I gave Lunnie her first haircut. 

Yeah, she can't sit still for two seconds. 

I had a heck of a time keeping London out of the tree, nativity, presents and everything else.  

Most of my Christmas shopping was done between the hours of 8:00 pm and 1:00 am, when my family was in bed.

 The kids made Gingerbread houses at Grandmas's

London can't stay off of the stairs there

I took my girls to the mall to see Santa, but he was CREEPY and Brinley was not interested in seeing him at all.  She said she was scared of him and wanted to know why his beard was that funny color because it's supposed to be white (pretty sure he bleached it).    Anyway, he was obviously not the real  Santa, so we just played on the toys instead.

 We made cookies for the "real" Santa

Lunnie ate cookies for the "real" Santa.

To Be Continued...