Our Christmas!!!

Stockings on Mom and Dad's bed. It's a tradition. Lucy didn't make it this far and was already back to bed.

Is it time YET???

Sophie FINALLY got a camera. Now she can stop asking to use ours and our phones. What a big girl!!

Look what my sweet husband and best friends made for me. Sam and the Richesons worked hard to make this a surprise. I though Sam was working on something for Emily the whole time and really he was also making these for me for the kids bed. I LOVE THEM! Just what I wanted. What a guy!

What a crazy couple of weeks. We had a great Christmas. Crazy and chaotic but fun!!

Merry Christmas!

We put the Griswalds to shame!!

You know the Griswalds from National Lampoons Christmas. That was us this past weekend. We decided to get a tree on Saturday. Somehow 4 hours later we were ontop of a mountain. I should mention there was tons of snow. We had no snow clothes, gear and Henry didn't even have a coat.

The baby is starting to lose her patients with the whole deal. I'm sure she is thinking we are all nuts and what is so hard about just getting a christmas tree and we passed tons on the way to this mountain. Sam and the kids head out in the rain and snow to find a tree. Lucy is screaming so I sit in the car with her. They realize that there is not much where we have stopped. Everyone is soaking wet. All of a sudden Sophie knocks on the window with the look of horror on her face.

"I peed my pants mom. Dad told me to just find somewhere and then I peed my pants."

So I strip her down and wrap her in our only blanket and get her back in the car and buckled to go. Sam and Henry finally come down with what seems like a christmas tree. We peel the soaking wet sweatshirt that Henry borrowed from my sister and all his wet clothes off. Here are the kids with no clothes on in the car. Lucy has had it and someone cars smells like it is on fire. We finally head down the mountain. The next day Sam gets the christmas tree and brings it to the living room.

Ok, now I know I am picky about a lot of things. But I just thought your tree needed branches on all "sides" as just a general requirement for all. This tree has branches coming out of one tiny section. The Whole back side is empty. Then where there are branches they are so long. It has to be the worlds ugliest tree.

But I lost. Sam loves it and the kids love it. It's our christmas tree with a sweet sweet spirit.

I'm a lucky girl!!

I have been sick in bed for the last 2 days. That doesn't mean what it does for someone who is not a mom. Still took kids to school, did laundry and cleaned the house...but I did have more time to lay down and take it easy with Sam being home. I have done a lot of thinking.
While there is so much to be unhappy about right now; no job, no money and no idea of the future, I am not unhappy.
I am so lucky.
1. An amazing husband. He is hard worker with such a good work ethic and drive to provide for his family. He is so good with the kids and is kind and patient.
2. My kids. They are the light of my life. They are really good kids who make me laugh and smile every day. I am so blessed to have all 3 of them here and healthy.
3. My extended family. Always supportive and involved in our lives. I couldn't ask for a better family.
4. The best BFF's EVER!!!
Cara-she has been through 16 years of thick and thin. Unfortunately I am on the thick side right now...sigh. She has always been a good listener and friend. She is always there to lend her support.  We are the same kind of mom and can just sit back and enjoy a conversation with out the stress of the kids behavior.
Nichole-Where do you begin with Nichole. She is the most selfless, kind person I have ever known. She is always at my door with anything I may be in need of. She always thinks of others and does it with a loving heart.
I am truly blessed to have all these poeple in my life. What would I do with out all of you?

I am Thankful!!

Sophie had a couple of her friends over to do a little Thanksgiving craft. We made thankful jars. They decoupaged the jars and then added slips of paper with things they are thankful for. Then they will take a slip each day and make a chain till christmas. She had so much fun and it was fun to talk to the kids about what they are thankful for. Each kid got to take home candles to put in their jar for when they are done. We tested it out and the paper looks very cool with the candle glowing. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

I will survive...

Yup, now you have the song in your head. ;)
Yesterday I walked into the laundry room to find a lake of water flooding out into the hall. I ran and turned off the washer. This had to be it since 20 minutes before I started a load. I call Sam in a panic. I'm a girl. What do I do? I know, know but that's why I have the babies and do the house stuff. I'm a girl. ;)
My dad comes over with a shop vac and we start getting the water out. Slowly it is going down so that I can suck it up with towels. I "think" we are ok till my dad turns on the washer again and....more water. Then I discover it in the bathroom. Oh and then in the family room. It was a mess.
Sam came home early to help. He then let me know he was laid off. No notice, no warning. Just don't come back. They have slowly been letting people go as the work gets less and less. We were always told that Sam would be ok. He's one of the best. Cream of the crop.
I was heartbroken, angry...you name it.
Here we are in the beginning of the Holiday season and 3 kids.
I was up a lot last night and decided I can make this work, do I have choice? I can do it. It's gonna suck, big time. But until something comes along I'll make it work. I just wish we had been able to uncover ourselves from the last time this happened. But it will be ok. I guess it has to be.
When it rains, it floods.

Cute kids alert!!!

We had a photo session with Holly today and these turned out sooo cute!!!

Feeling more domestic!!

Not sure why or what is different but in the last week I have been making and baking more then ever. Weird, I know. Cookies, muffins, breads, cup cakes and so on. Go figure. So my next task is to make home made apple sauce with my mom and Emily. We shall she how this goes. I reallllly wanted to try and make Lucy's food this time around but it just seems like so much work and maybe even cost more. Wish me luck with the apple sauce!!

A busy day of cuteness!!!

Sophie and I were busy today getting some crafts and things done for the house. I am not sure what has gotten in to me lately. I do NOT craft. Hormones? I traded in some points I had to get Sophie some new bedding. She calls it her grown up girl bedding. So to do some design on a dime I got a canvas like I did for the bathroom, used some things we had and repainted some things. This is a work in progress but here is what we did today. I still need to finish the hair bow holder and tomorrow her dad is painting her desk brown and I am hunting for a yellow chair cover. Then I will tie a big bow to come out the back. I need an idea of how to cover that light on her wall. She really wants to keep it but it is so ugly. Anyone?

This is Lulu's side. Still need a wood frame around the blessing dress. Someday I will put it in a shadow box. And I need to paint the diaper basket.

This is Lulu's side. Still need a wood frame around the blessing dress. Someday I will put it in a shadow box. And I need to paint the diaper basket.

Best $3.48 I have ever spent!!

This kept them going for hours today. It's the coolest chalk and it comes with the glasses. Even I had fun!!

Today's project...the kids bathroom!!!

I literally woke up today and decided I was going to do the kids bathroom. So my brain got going a little and I did this. It will be going a little higher on the wall, I just wanted to test it out and the kids were asleep. No hammering. I also got a new brown shower curtain that I could not get in the pic. What do you think?
And yes, I made it. Shocking, I know!!

The things I can teach you from Kindergarten!

Duh, Mom!

Henry~Oh NOOOO, Mom. We forgot to go ride a horse today.
Me~ Were we suppose to ride a horse today?
Henry~YES!
Me~Hmmm, ok I didn't know that. Maybe another time.
Henry~Well if you bought me a cowboy costume I would need to ride a horse. Don't you know that?
Me~I didn't know that.
Henry~Why I gotta tell you these things.

Running Mom!!

I am not a runner anymore. I am a running mom. I have to jump off the treadmill or stop the stroller for binkies, bottles, break up fight and so on...
It's exhausting. Why am I not skinny just from all that. In all of it I think I got a stress fracture in my foot from my run last night. I blame it all on the kids. With how many times I jumped off the treadmill It had to be their fault, right?
So why am I doing this? It is just one more thing to ad to my list. I am shamefully slow and feel like I am dead after. I just keep telling myself, even if I don't get skinny, I have a healthy heart and it's good for my kids to see. Right?
I.WILL.KEEP.GOING.

More projects...

We had 2 night stands from when we got married that were not being used for much. I decided to redo them and use them in the house. I took one from Henry's room. I wanted a vintage, distressed look. I love how it came out.

Before...


after..






I have one more to go. I am doing another one for the living room.
Now this is the girls room before. I need some jazz in here, on a budget. I would love any ideas.





And I saw this on another blog and loved the idea. It asked what your favorite place in the house was right now. I know mine changes but the living room is mine right now.





What's your?

My Sunday project!!!

Sam's project for the weekend was not much fun. I walked into the laundry room to find the washer across the room. Apparently it was not feeling well. But thanks to my ever so smart husband he researched took it apart and fixed it himself. Twice. ;)

This was a lot of work. Next time I think I am buying them, but this set was made with my sweat, tears(not really) and love.

Flannel board stories!!!

We needed something to spice up our FHE lessons. Not bad for doing the coloring myself, huh?

Now this week I am tackling the painting and refinishing of furniture. Prayer are much appreciated. ;)

YAY for babies and baby showers!!!

We had a baby shower today for my friend Megan. I love baby showers! My friend Nichole(who did my shower) and I worked on this together. I am sure she was mortified at some of my attempts to pull it off. HA HA! She is the party girl and I tried, really I did. LOL
It was a fun day and thanks to Nichole, we pulled it off.

Seriously T.I.R.E.D

How do some moms do it. I mean they bake fresh everything, they sew their kids clothes, they do fun crafts...
It's all I can do to get through the day in one piece right now.
This was my day and I did nothing as stated above. HOW. DO.THEY.DO.IT?

Got up with Baby 6:15
Fed Lucy
Got Henry up and fed
Changed Baby
Took a shower
Got Henry dressed
Made Henry and Lucy's beds
Got Sophie up
Sophie dressed
Made Sophie's bed
Fed Sophie
Did Sophie's hair
Got every ones teeth brushed
Checked backpack
Loaded breakfast dishes
Got Lucy dressed
Put in a load of Laundry
Made our bed
Vacuumed upstairs
Wiped down counters
Folded a load of laundry
Got everyone in car
Dropped of Sophie
Walgreen's
Safeway
Albertsons
Post office
Put away groceries
Put another load of laundry in
Worked on tagging for consignment sale
Fed Henry
Got Sophie and her friend off the bus
Fed the girls lunch
Fed Lucy
Put Lucy down
Cash and Cara came over
Swept kitchen floor
Scrubbed Stove top
Wiped down Bathrooms
Scrubbed my Shower
Scrubbed my bathroom floor
Worked on finishing consignment sale
Fell asleep on the couch for 5 minutes while snuggling with Henry
Swept kitchen floor
Kids in car
Bank
Post office
Put dinner in the oven
More work on consignment sale
Took out trash and recycling
Went through the mail
Had dinner
Did Dishes
Sophie homework
Walgreen
Safeway
Kids in bath
Kids in pjs, teeth, etc...
Fed Lucy
Rocked Lucy
Tucked in kids(prayers, read, chit chat....)
Finished consignment sale stuff
Another load of laundry
Ran dishwasher
Cleaned up family room
Paid bills online
Sat down here at the computer.
Now I am about the fold the last load of laundry and fall into bed.

So HOW DO THEY DO ANY EXTRA????????

That's a lot of dead people!!

We are in the car on our way to preschool. We pass a cemetary on our way. I guess Henry was listening a long time ago when Sophie and I discussed what it was. This was our conversation.

"Hey, Mom."
"Uh huh?"
"That's a lot of dead people"
"uhhhh, I guess you are right"
"How did they get there? Should we go get them out?"
"Um, no we should not. They are resting now (shudder)"
"But they are naked."
"uhhhh, No. They are not. They have clothes on and it is just their bodies now. They are with Heavenly Father."
"If I accidentally kick Cash really hard, will he die and have to go there?"
"(sighhhhhh). No, and we don't kick our friends. And kicking won't kill him."
"Oh, I know. His mom would get him anyway."

Heaven help me with this one.

Frugal chick in the house!!!

If you are not reading my frugal blog...you should. HA HA I got all this and made money today, 6.73 to be exact. Just click on the link under little Lucy over there->

Best Baby, Dinosaur and School Girl!

Yes, they all reside in our house. It is chaotic but moving along nicely with all the changes.

Guess who is 2 months old? And the best baby in the world, and the cutest. ;)

And guess who is the craziest in our house? If you want a glimpse of my daily life click on my sister Katie aka skates/porter number 6 to see a video of him.

And guess who is the best Kindergartner ever. She loves it and is really thriving. She had such a hard time when Lucy was born but school has made all the difference for her.

What did I do when???

I often find myself thinking what did I do when Sophie was a baby or what did I do with all my time before I had kids and all this stuff to do all.the.time.
So I decided I was going to journal my days a little more so I could go back and remember what I did with all my time.
Got up
Fed Lucy
Got Henry breakfast
Asked Sophie to get out of bed
Made Henry's bed
Got Henry dressed
Got Lucy dressed
Got myself dressed and ready
Made my bed
Asked Sophie to get out of bed
Loaded breakfast dishes
Put a load of laundry in
Asked Sophie to get out of bed
Brushed Henry's teeth
Checked diaper bag
Checked Sophie's backpack
Made Sophie get out of bed
Fought over what Sophie was going to wear
Got Sophie dressed
Sophie breakfast
Did Sophie's hair
Got everyone in the car
Returned movies to blockbuster
Dropped Sophie at school
Dropped Henry at Nichole's
Vacuumed car out
Stopped at consignment shop to get money
Went shopping with Lucy for clothes for her
Picked up Sophie at bus
Picked up Henry at Nichole's
Fed everyone lunch
Put Lucy down for nap
Dusted Living room
Vacuumed upstairs
Another load of laundry
Took eBay pictures
Made meatloaf for dinner
Scrubbed kitchen table and chairs
Another load of laundry
Picked up family room with kids
Cleaned kitchen floor
Swept front porch
Fixed Dinner
Dinner dishes
Printed eBay labels
Another load of laundry
Family Home Evening
Got kids in Bed
Fed Lucy
Got Lucy asleep
Took a bath
Ran dishwasher
Cleaned girls closet
and here I am...

Does it EVER get easier??????
Am I the only mom who feels like if I stop for a bit I will just get behind that much more?

Jonas Brothers in a Whale??

The kids and I were telling bible stories the other night. I told the kids about Jonah and the whale.
Sophie~oh I totally know the Jonas Brothers.
Me~ No honey, I am not talking about the Disney channel, I'm talking about the Bible.
Henry~ Why did Jesus get in the whale.
Me~ No, not Jesus...Jonah.
Henry~ after a long pause...What kind of tool would you use to get out of a whale?

FRUGAL LADIES!!!

And gentlemen if you are out there ready and love a good deal...I am starting my blog going again. You click under the kids on the right. Over there->!
Check out my goal for the Holidays. Join me to see if I can do it. Psssstttt...I am giving away prizes.

Sophie goes to school!!

Kindergarten!!!

How did this happen? I swear I am not old enough and neither is Sophie. Wow, I feel OLD. She was so excited she asked for months how many more days. She changed outfits and shoes, packed her backpack and unpacked several times.

The morning of she was up before 6 and ready to go. We got ready and dropped of Henry and Lucy and Grandmas!

Then she and I headed to school. I thought she would explode she could hardly stand the excitement.

Henry and I headed to the bus to wait for her. As I stood there I watched the bus head down the hill. My cell rang and it was the school. They wondered where I was. Somehow they missed getting Sophie on the bus. When I got to the school she was just hanging out with the office ladies.

She proceeded to tell me that she got tooooo sweaty on the playground and would like to wear flip flops from now on, the principal was scary and you CAN NOT talk in the hall.

She was so tired and worn out from all the excitement that she mistook the end of Henry's bed for the potty in the middle of the night. I am sure she'll love that I took note of that one, some day.

Tomorrow I take Henry for his very first day of Preschool.

Lucy is here!! July 18, 2009!!!

I had 2 more days to plan and get ready. I am use to c-sections where you roll in with makeup and hair done. You have everything ready and organized. It is more my personality. Well Lucy had different plans. It was truly fitting for the whole pregnancy with her. I just KNEW my dates were wrong. No one would listen and would NOT budge on her delivery date.
So it was Saturday. Sophie, Megan and I were getting pedicures. All of a sudden I thought I was going to die. I will spare the details as to not scar my posterity of reading this in the future.
This was at 11:45ish. By 1 I was in the hospital with contractions. I have never really had these and thought I WOULD DIE!!!!! They decided she was ready to come and 30 minutes later I was heading back for a c-section. It was a long and rough surgery but she finally made it out.
She was purple and having a hard time. After one quick glance at her they carted her off to the NICU. It was almost 3 hours before I got to see her. When I did it made all of the last 39 weeks worth it. It was a LONG 39 weeks.

Meet Lucy Ray Eastman July 18, 2009

9 lbs 21 inches