Happy Birthday to Me

So we only have one picture from my birthday and this is it.  I wish it'd been better.  I would like to better show the cake that Aaron came home early from work to make me... from scratch.  Yes.  I know.  I'm a lucky gal.  The table runner in the picture was a b-day gift from my Mamma too.  So we only took one picture and the battery died.  Aaron tossed aside the camera in frustration which I didn't really understand at the time.  After a fun family dinner I found out why he showed such disdain for our camera.  Aaron has been doing some extra editing work on the side the past few months.  He made some good money and I've asked him a few times what he intended to do with it.  He refused to tell me.  But for my birthday I received something we have both been wanting for a long time and I found out where that money went.  An awesome... real life fancy schmancy SLR camera.    It's so nice and I am excited and totally intimidated all at once.  This blog might have to be victim to picture overload now.  Well.. after I figure out how to use it.  What fun.  Thanks to my awesome family and friends who made the day so special.

Fire Station

Sam had already decided to be a fireman for Halloween when this opportunity came to visit the firestation.  Our friend Tiffany set it up and our little preschool group went a few days before Halloween.   Sam wore his costume and was in awe all day. 

Aaron is a Beast

This summer Aaron up and decided that he was going to do the Livestrong Centennial Ride (100 miles) in Austin this fall.  He had only a few months to get ready and he worked his tail off.  His committment was so impressive.  Numerous people  who rode and trained with him have since commented to me that "Aaron is a beast".  I've learned that this is a good thing.  For bikers atleast.  He's tough.  I already knew that, but I'm glad that everyone else can know too.  We are so proud of him. 

 Aaron and Todd getting ready early that morning.



Halloween

We had such a spooktacular Halloween this year.  I loved every  minute of it.  Here are a few pics from our fun this year.

Our House Right Now: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

 I don't usually do a whole lot to decorate for holidays, but pinterest has kind of changed all of that.  Infact it has caused me to bust out crafty projects left and right.  Andrew is my crafty boy and he loves every minute of it.  I'm quite enjoying the creative outlet as well.  Here is our mantel this year.  Our cheesecloth ghosties were lots of fun.

My favorite part is these spooky spell books.  I followed a link on pinterest to print off the pages and then used dark wax to make them look oldish.  Then I just taped them onto some books of mine.  I think they turned out awesome.

 Yes.... that is 3 refrigerators in our kitchen.  Ours has slowly been dying for awhile and a repair man confirmed that there is a slow freon leak, not worth fixing.  We were so happy to find someone giving away the other stainless steel one, but here's a little lesson... you can't transport a fridge on its side.  It can ruin it.  The same nice repair man confirmed that as well.  So now... we are hoping that the black one at the end will step up and do the job.  A working fridge is one of those things I have often taken for granted, but believe me.... fridges are great blessings in our lives and you should go give yours a hug right now. 

For a long time I've been wanting a giant magnet board to display family and friend pictures.  I wanted one big one, but ended up with this instead.  I think I like it. 

 Easiest front door decoration ever.

  Awhile ago I let Andrew start keeping a small box of leftover bottles, cans, boxes, etc... that he can use for his art projects and science experiments.  It has grown and grown.  He is a little trash collector and yet... he comes up with cool projects for pretty much everything he has stored.  That is his unused pile in the corner, but his finished projects are taking over his room.  I love it and hate it at the same time. 

1st Day of School

The Commandments

In primary last month, I was teaching about the 10 commandments.  On the last week of the month I decided to do an activity that required each child to write down a commandment they had kept or seen someone else keep in the last month.  Most kids got it.  They wrote, "When my Mom asked me to clean my room... I obeyed,"  or "My friend found some money but returned it to the right owner."  But a few decided it was a time for confessions.  Here are my favorites from the activity:

"I took a chocolate coverd strawberry."

"Yesterday I took two carrots."

"I turned on the fire place for santa clase." 

I'm not sure if that last one was breaking or keeping a commandment.  I guess we'd have to ask Santa.  Oh I love my primary kiddos.  :)

Good News

Coming March 2013

What We Love Most About Visiting Utah

Blueberries

Our good friends Kate and Ryan introduced us to this blueberry patch. 

Gas for the trip:  $5

Blueberries:  $2/pound

The taste of freshly picked blueberries:  PRICELESS

:)

Fathers

 I don't know if I am food obsessed or if it is Aaron.  As I racked my brain for what he'd like for father's day, time and time again  I thought of food.  And then (I'm thinking) if you're going to give food for your gift... I might as well  present it nicely.  And thus was born... bacon roses.  Of course... I did get a bit of help from pinterest, but that hardly counts does it?  These were a big hit. 

 

 The kids had a lot of fun helping me put this together as well.  They thought it was so funny.

Aaron really is a phenomenal Dad!  He makes each of the kids feel special and makes a point to spend 1 on 1 time with each of them.  I appreciate so much that he is truly invested and committed to fatherhood.  He teaches so much by example how to work hard and how to serve diligently.  Happy Happy Father's Day Aaron.

Just for fun we made this funny card to send to mine and Aaron's Dads.  The ones online looked cooler, but it was fun all the same.  I've been thinking about my Dad today as my refrigerator has broken down and I am awaiting some repair person who is going to charge me hundreds of dollars for his wisdom.  Not only is my Dad capable of fixing EVERYTHING, but he is selfless in wanting to help people whenever he can.  I know if I wasn't thousands of miles away... he'd be here fiddling with my fridge and figuring out the problem.  I love that about my Dad.  He doesn't seem to have a selfish bone in his body.  I definitely struggle with that same quality.  I am selfish.  I'm maybe a bit less selfish though because of the example of my Dad.  I'm not a lost cause yet.  I do hope that someday  I will be more like him in that regard. 

Just a bit about my father in law as well.  Paul and my Dad are similar in their work ethic.  He is always working.  Working at the temple, working at work, working in his garden, working at the grill :)  He likes to keep busy and engaged in something productive and honestly that seems to be where he is most happy.  Again... I love to veg.  Way too much.  Paul is an example to me in that regard.  Not stressed or anything... just doing what needs to be done. 

I'm so grateful for these good men and fathers in my life.  Happy happy fathers day.