Where shall we live???

We are staying with Sam's brother, Caleb, and his wife Melissa. We have no idea what is going to happen with financial aid and it sounds like we will lose unemployment as soon as he starts school. So Sam thinks he has found us free housing.
Caleb's basement is unfinished. It seems to be the trend here. Built HUGE houses and never finish the basement. Sam contacted the owner of the house and said he would finish it for cost, labor free if we could live in it for free as long as we needed.
It will be a blessing for us, but very hard too. No real windows, just window wells. No private entrance or kitchen. It will be fine just challenging long term.
I said I would do what I needed to do to make this all work...remembering the prize at the end. It will be worth it, right?
So construction starts ASAP. I will take before and after of our little space and post soon.

Well, we aren't boring!

Let's do a little catch up, shall we?

In November Sam lost his job. In December after realizing there was nothing out there in his field of work and unemployment was just not gonna do...We decided Sam would go back the BY! Yup, BYU!

What you ask?? 3 kids, middle aged and sooooo past that stage of our life. We knew it was what we were suppose to do. As some had suggested, I will NOT be living in student housing or really in Provo.

So after lots of stress and planning...we leave on Sunday.

We packed up our house that we JUST moved into 7 months ago.

We have been staying with Scott's kids while they are in Mexico while we wait to head out in a few days. 7 kids!

Let's just say...People who have a lot of kids are truly amazing. I am WIPED OUT.

We had 2 dr. visit, 3 cases of croup, 2 ear infections, 1 valentines day party, tons of laundry, lots of chaos and packing.

So I will resume this blog as we get situated in Utah. Did I mention we don't know where we are living yet?

Wish us luck!!!

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!!!