Food

Sometimes I get creative in the kitchen.

This most often happens when the cupboards are bare and I am putting off the dreadful chore of  grocery shopping. (ugh)

Such was my plight yesterday as I realized the evening was going to be a busy one and I needed to have dinner prepared in advance. 

So here is my new recipe.

We named it: Mexican Cowboy Beans (because we thought that by putting the word "cowboy" in there...the boys would like it better...and there are green chilies in it...hence, the "Mexican") :)

Get out your crock pots amigos cuz you're gonna wanna try this one!

Mexican Cowboy Beans

1-2 bnls/sknls chicken breast(s)

2 cans of Northern beans

1 can of corn

1 sml can of green chilies 

1 handful of dehydrated onion (or about 1/2 a cupish of chopped fresh onion...or leave the onion out...whatever you want.  

Season to taste with:

cumin (don't use too much for you'll regret it...a teaspoon tops is my advice!) 

garlic salt

pepper

I put all ingredients (including seasonings) into the crock pot on high for about 3 hours....then turned it to low for probably another 2-3 hrs. Basically I put it in at 1pm and we ate around 6:30pm. I don't think time matters as long as the chicken is cooked and tender.  The chicken can be frozen when you put it in. Mine was. And leave the juice in with the beans, corn and chilies. Just turn the crock pot to low after the chicken is cooked so that you don't scorch the beans.

I ate mine in a bowl with cheese on top and dipped tortilla chips in it. Brandon ate his with cheese corn tortillas.  Oh. We also diced up some avocado to go with it.

  Pruébelo! Te gustará!

Where does the time go!?

We are just pluggin along with life over here! School, callings, meetings, kids performances, family gatherings. It gets busy but when I stop and think about it...I wouldn't have it any other way!

The weather is nice and cool. We woke up this morning to frost on the ground. This about as close as it's gonna get to being a white Christmas here in the Valley. My kids love the cold. (Brandon and I do too! After enduring our first summer back in the "Valley of the Sun" I am relishing every second of cold outdoor air!

Weston put on his snow coat this morning and just stood in the back yard enjoying the chilly morning. (I was busy getting breakfast on the table...so there no pictures.). Weston really wants it to snow!

The changing of seasons makes me homesick for Snowflake.

Kaitlyn is 11 now! Holy COW right!? She is such a fun girl. I love that she can babysit now. She does a good job at helping me out when I need it. She plays the violin and is really starting to enjoy it.

Adelin turns 8 in nine days!!!! We are planning a party for her! Adelin is a great help to me. She is SO good with the baby. She loves playing the piano for him...and she is great at calming him down...and making him laugh.

Connor is 3 1/2 and I tell ya....he is either so darn sweet or so darn sour! He really hates it when Brandon and I go somewhere without him. He throws a huge fit and tries to run out of the house and chase whoever is leaving down the street...while screaming his head off. It's dreadful! Brandon and I know try to sneak out of the house. The thing is...when we take him with us, he is really well behaved. He is a good shopper. He doesn't ask for anything and he is content to just sit in the cart. Other than that...he is a great kid! :) He loves to eat cereal and he just found out that he kids bananas! He likes to play with his brothers, jump on the trampoline, ride his bike or scooter and go for walks to the park! :) (that almost sounded like a classified ad!)

Does that cover all the kids?

Oh! Cameron! The baby! He is so stinking cute! How could I forget him! He's my sidekick! He crawls all over this house now! This week he discovered the kitchen cupboards and has climbed in and out of a few. He can open drawers...and stand up to furniture. He says, "ma ma" now! He's said "da da" for a while...and now he will finally say "ma ma" too! He is learning to wave "bye bye"....but isn't consistent with that trick yet! This boy also loves to eat. He isn't picky. He eats whatever we offer him. (He loved the pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving dinner!)  He also begs food off the other kids. He especially likes frozen GoGurts.

My nephews wife took family pictures for us last weekend. We haven't had a family picture in a long time!

I guess that's all for now. Sorry there aren't any pictures....but that's just the way it goes. Our other computer that I download pictures to is not hooked up to the internet right now anyways...so even if I had time to post pictures, I couldn't!

Boy this past week was as busy as ever!

Monday was my kids first day of school after Fall Break (two weeks off)...and we had just gotten in from Utah at 9 p.m. the night before. I got up at 5 a.m. because I really want to be a morning person and thought getting up that early would be an awesome way to start the week. I read my scriptures and wrote in my journal for an hour. Then I did this really hard work out, showered and was dressed for the day before the kids woke up! We had a wonderful FHE that night! if you want...I can email the lesson to you!

Tuesday I was up early again. I cleaned the bathrooms then I made whole wheat waffles from scratch....with fresh fruit on the side.

Wedneday I went grocery shopping. It is a fun way to spend time with the kids and get food for the family. They are great at helping me pick out nutritious things snacks and meals.

Thursday I was up cleaning the house again. I think It is awesome to get the house work all done before the kids wake up. At least the house is clean and sanitarty for them...even it if it is only for a few minutes!

My parents watched the kids for us Friday night and Brandon and I went to his cousin's daughters wedding reception in Phoenix. It was fun to see and visit with family there! There was a live band that was really very good!....a little loud...but good!

Satruday, we had time to relax...since I had gotten all the house work done earlier in the  week. So nice to have a day off!

Sunday, we got to church early and sat on soft benches! It was nice to not be sitting in the "over-flow" where you have the sounds of metal chairs scooting across hardwood floors to deal with.

And today....I am typing this post....which is 98% false!

Can guess which TWO days events are true!

Life

 My Grandpa Barrett...working on the farm

Holy Cow life has been busy around here!

I have pictures of stuff...but I don't feel like digging out the camera and downloading any of them.

September 22nd, my Grandpa (Golden Wesley Barrett Jr.) passed away in Los Alamitos, CA. He was 87. I love that guy! I am SO greatful for a Grandpa who as able to make my siblings and cousins and I feel so loved. He lived a good life. Up until he got cancer 5-6 years ago, he'd been as "fit as a fiddle"!

Last Monday (Oct. 7th) we loaded up the minivan with kids and luggage and headed up to Utah for my Grandpa's funeral. It was a good trip. Our kids like roadtrips...and staying in hotels...and since they were on Fall Break, we were able to take our time driving there and back. We loved seeing family that we haven't seen in five years or more.

Brandon and I loved taking the kids to Temple Square. I LOVE Temple Square. I have a lot of good memories from going there as a child and teenager. We hadn't been back since they renovated and created the City Creek Mall. That place is beautiful. It rained for sprinkled the whole day we were there...but we are from Arizona...so we LOVE rain! We walked through the Joseph Smith building, both visitor centers, the Assembly Hall, the Tabernacle...we sent a good amount of time in the Church History Museum. They have a great exhibit for kids. Then we took a tour of the Conference Center. Our guide is the best friend of one of my good friends mom who lived in Show Low. She was the perfect person to do our tour because she raised 5 boys and knew we had to be quick when the kids were impatient or let them take their time when they were interested. We ended the day at Sizzlers with a table away from everyone else and a chance to talk about our day.

My Grandpa's funeral was Saturday October 13th. It was a beautiful Autumn day in Logan, UT. The trees still had their Fall colors. There were also a good number of leaves on the ground.

The funeral was good for me. I hadn't cried about my grandpa passing until then. He was so sick and miserable. He just wanted "to go". We took the kids to California and visited my Grandparents in July. I knew that my Grandpa's life would be coming to an end soon. But the funeral was a time for remembering. I remember so much about my grandpa and it just made me cry. Mostly they were tears of knowing I will miss him...but also tears of joy. I know I will see him again!

My dad and I took the kids to the zoo today.

They have a cute area called "Harmony Farm". You can pet the goats and milk the fake cow. I sat down on a bench in there to feed Cameron while my dad kept an eye on the kiddos.

When I finished nursing him I noticed that I had fed him right next to this sign:

Nice, right? I guess I will have to be more careful next time I pick a place to fed the kid in public.

We had a good time though.
We saw the animals,
 rode the train...
the kids played at both splash pad areas.
We ate our snacks...and then it was time to go!

Bloggin'...

This, my friends, is what some people call, "fun". Other people call it crazy. Brandon and two of his brothers (Doug and Tyler) participated in the "Wild Cow Milking" event at the Snowflake Rodeo over the Pioneer day Celebration weekend. That's Brandon holding the cow by her horns...and that's his brother Doug...milkin' her. They didn't win but they had fun tryin'. Plus they got their picture in the White Mountain Independent newspaper looking like 'real cowboys'! Although...I don't know how often real cowboys milk wild cows...?

Anyhow.

SO. It's been a while since I have blogged. There are lots of reasons for that but it mostly comes down to this: I am not sure what to blog about when I have the time to blog.

I have been doing a lot of reading and thinking lately. Books like, "Daring Greatly" and "The Gifts of Imperfection" both by Brene Brown have me thinking about myself and life and others in a different way. I want to have more courage, compassion and connection in my life. I want my kids to feel loved, understood and guided by me as their mother. I want to remember that I am going to mess up and that it is okay. I am learning that, for me, I have to be constantly seeking self acceptance because when I am not, I am not just standing still...I am regressing back into comparing myself to others, and hustling to make it look like I can do it all when under the surface I am drowning. SO...see...like I said...I have lots on my mind to blog about...I am just not so sure how to go about sharing it.

I will share something from my morning though. 

I went to wake the kids up for school and remembered that today is picture day for Kaitlyn. We had already talked yesterday about how she wanted her hair done (curled) and that we'd either have to put her hair in rollers before bed or get up early to curl her hair. SO...we forgot to do both. Long story short...I really wanted her to feel like she looked extra nice, so I ended up curling her hair, which meant that I was curling her hair and hollering at the other kids to brush their teeth and get their shoes on...and doing Adelin and Weston's hair in between curling sections of Kaitlyn's hair. I was feeling stressed when my phone alarm started going off telling me it was time to leave to take the kids to school and I wasn't done with Kaitlyn's hair. 

Things like that happen around here often. Daily even....there's multiple things that need my attention all at the same time. What bothered me this morning is that I let it get to me. And what really bothered me is that I snapped at Adelin. She wasn't listening and I was a little too hard on her. I apologized and told her I love her...but it's bugging me even still that I wasn't more kind and gentle with her earlier. 

After dropping the kids off at school I came home, and sat down to nurse Cameron and read my scriptures (I still can't seem to let the chance to multitask pass me by...darn it). Before I read I prayed to read something that would help me today. I am in Alma chapter 48....lots of talk about Amalickiah and all his evilishness. Then, in verse 7 I read, "Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God." I read that and thought, "That's it! That's what will help me today!" Today, I can prepare my children's minds to be faithful to God as I let them see me as the imperfect mother that I am...as I let them know that I love them, but I am not perfect at showing it. As I let them know that I am trying and that I know they are trying too. And, as I let them know that none of us are going to be able to do anything good without trusting the Lord enough to ask for His help. That is one way I can help them prepare to have faith in Christ....today.

It is nice to know that I can have a bad moment and that it doesn't have to lead into me having a bad day. 

That's something worth bloggin' about. :)

update

Well my mom said to post something so i will
WE ARE GOING TO CA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)
oh and on Sunday  we saw a gopher hole in our  front yard and today Weston and Connor thought that if they peed in the gopher hole then the gopher would leave they were wrong and instead they got a scolding from my mom telling them to pee in the backyard and not in the front yard 
good times
~Kaitlyn M. F.

Our baby...

He's cute

He smiles

He laughs

He babbles

He sleeps through the night

He weighs 16 lbs

He's 4 months old

He makes us happy

Life for the past month...(a year late...)

**I found this post in my draft file. It is not complete....but that's okay. I am posting it anyways!**


...of course I am not going to blog about ALL that's gone on in the past month...that would take me a few hours to even do it justice. (we've been busy!)

The girls finished up school on May 25th. ({{{big sigh of relief!}}}) I love summer break! This year we go back to school August 9th. (What's up wtih THAT!?...I am not too thrilled about having my kids back into the daily grind so soon.)

The week before the last week of school...we took the kids to Disneyland for the first time! I was not looked forward to taking our kids to Disneyland. I grew up in So. Cal. and went often. When we went as a family, we'd get there when the park opened and leave when it closed. We kids, had a blast...but when I have thought of going to D.L. from a parents perspective it's just sounded like...something I really didn't want to do with 4 little ones. But, the time was right. Kaitlyn is still 9 (she would be considered an "adult" by Disney ticket price standards if she were 10) and Connor is 2...so he's still free. We found the perfect place for us to stay. My Uncle Larry  helped us get a good deal for 3-Day Hopper Passes...and we were set! (Here's something we've learned about 6 people traveling in a minivan...PACK LIGHT! We took only 3 changes of clothes each (and other essentials)...we just washed and wore the same things! It saved us so much room and made packing so much easier!)

Our trip started Mother's Day weekend. First, Brandon and I got up early and went to an onsite Ma and Pa training for our Stake Pioneer Trek. Then we came home, showered, and headed on out! (We had packed the van the day before). We got to Mesa, had dinner with my parents and then drove on to Blythe. I had booked us a hotel room on Price-line. It was the worst hotel room I have stayed in in a LONG time...but it was only $56 and it was only one night and I really thought that Blythe wouldn't have much of anything better. (We found out on our return trip that they do!) So, the next day was Sunday (and Mother's Day). Brandon and the kids brought me breakfast (free hotel food!) in bed :) then we got ready for church. We drove and went to church in Rancho Mirage. When we were leaving, we ran into Debbie Lybert...who was in the ward I grew up in in Rialto. She has two kids close to my age and she had been one of my YW leaders. It was fun to see her! I LOVE running into people who know me! That doesn't happen often where I live!

After church, we drove to Rialto and took the kids on a mini tour of where I grew up. They really didn't seem all that interested...even though my High School is bigger than any building here in Snowflake....and my house that was once a cozy yellow with white trim is now pink with pink trim and I think there is a Virgin Mary statue in the flower bed. :) I did get to visit our old neighbors, the Skalicky's. Michelle was my first real friend. We had so much fun together when we were young. Luckily, since it was Mother's Day, she was there at the parents house. Again...it was so nice to visit with people who know me! Then we went a few streets over to see Dolly and Jim. The kids loved checking out their little RV. They had just gotten home from AZ (ironically) a few minutes before we pulled up. Dolly is one of my mom's best friend. Our families spent a lot of time together when we were kids. My mom and Dolly took us on fun field trips to places like the Museum of Natural History, Doheny Beach and The San Juan Capistrano Mission.

Well, we left Dolly and Jim's and drove to Norwalk (where my mom grew up!) and had a yummy dinner with the Down's prepared by my Auntie Bev. (She's a good cook!) It was fun to show the kids my grandparents old house and to tell them about all the things my cousins and I used to do...lemonade stands, walking to the "chink market" and celebrating the 4th of July on Lowemont Street with all of the neighbors.

**Fast Forward**

Monday, was our first day at Disneyland. We got Fast Passes for Splash Mountain, then went on Pirates of the Caribbean first. All the kids but Connor ended up going on Splash Mountain (at some point...and the girls got to go twice!) We found out that the girls LOVE roller-coasters...and Weston does NOT. :) He's like me when I was little. My all time favorite ride was "It's a Small World". He liked that one too. We had so much fun at Disneyland. We rode every ride we wanted to (except for Mr. Toads ride and Peter Pan) and never waited for more than 35 minutes...thanks to fast passes and being able to get a pass to switch riders. We ended that day with what is now the "Nemo Ride"...the Yellow Submarines. Connor put his little face on his hands up in one of the port-holes and fell asleep. It was a long fun day! We walked back to the condo and went to bed.

Tuesday....we met up with my Aunt Bev, Uncle Larry and my cousin Kristian at their house and followed them to Cabrio Beach. Brandon's sister Kayla and her three little girls met us there! Cabrio Beach is another place we went to often as kids. My Aunt Bev would take us and we'd go poke around in the tide pools. I also went a few times with my school on field trips. It's a fun place to go. It's free and they have their own touch pool where you can go see and touch all the things that are in a real tide pool...and then, if the tide is low, you can climb out on the rocks and go see what you just learned about. The day we were there was a high tide, and even though it was super windy, the kids had fun playing in the water and sand. I think their favorite part was the showers though!

Wednesday we went to CA Adventure. We loved everything about it from "Bug's Life" (the first thing we did) to "World of Color" (absolutely AMAZING...water, music, scenes from Disney movies being projected onto the water, fire....like I said...it was amazing.) Weston and I went on "Soaring Over CA" together. He was so cute. When we got off he was like, "Mom, were you scared that the fireworks were going to burn you because I was!" We left CA. Adv. and hurried over to D.L. and took the kids to "Toon Town" real quick before that park closed. They got to have some one on one time with Mickey Mouse!

Don't let the cute face fool ya!

*This picture is about a year old.*

Connor is going through a difficult phase. I don't know if it's his age, my lack of patience or the fact that he's been through so many moves in the past 18 months that he can't remember not being in "transition mode".

He is ornery, grouchy, quick to anger and pretty stubborn. The thing is...he is only this way at home...and thankfully only this way about 15% of the time. 

He is a lot of peoples "favorite". People just love his smile and his cute voice and they can't imagine him being anything but adorable!

Yesterday he covered his hands in poop. Then rubbed them on the carpet in his room, his bed and...oddly enough...a few shirts in his drawer without getting any on his dresser. 

He needs to be potty trained...but his stubbornness is prohibiting all efforts.

Today, he was outside playing with Weston and decided to pee outside. I am all for that...I have told him multiple times to "pee on a tree or the grass". (Animals do it!). But, he, for some reason, has a hard time remembering that. Today he "wet" the grass, a little of the sidewalk and one of Weston's legs and a foot. Weston's response was classic! He told me: "If people had powers, that wouldn't have happened." I asked him "why" and he said, "Because I would have built a force field." :)

*Connor turned 3 on Sunday! I will post more pictures of him later!

Attention all you ex-bloggers....if you even read this....

I am feeling like I need to tidy up my blog...so if you haven't posted to your blog in well over a year...I am deleting you from my sidebar. Not because I don't love you....but because it bugs me to have links to things that I can't enjoy anymore!

All you that have left the blogging world for the world of Facebook...and what's that new one? Instagram? I understand your need to connect with more people on a more convenient level...so I will forgive you for leaving the bloggersphere....but I am deleting you!!!! (unless you ask me not to) :)

Weston

Our Mr. Weston...we love him!

I am going to try to do a post about each kid (with a current picture)...just to give this blog a bit of an update!

Weston is 5! He goes to "Sunshine Sharing Preschool" on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. His preschool teacher, Mrs. Rosie, lives across the street....and she gives him a ride to school in the morning. He loves getting to be the first one to school...he gets to set up the tables and chairs. Plus, they have horses and chickens at his school! So, he pretty much loves it!

At home, Weston and Connor spend a lot of time playing....and fighting. They get into some of the BEST arguments...over the silliest things! I try to just laugh it off...or else I'd be yelling at them ALL day.

Weston has also discovered the art of eating. He has told me more than once lately that he "loves to eat food!". I used to wonder if he'd ever get an appetite! Now I don't think he goes more than 45 minutes without eating something! Our grocery bill has seriously reflected his growing appetite. (No joke! I feel like I am going to the store all the time to re-stock the pantry!)

He loves to have oatmeal with honey and cinnamon in the morning. The honey has to be stirred in...the cinnamon is not. (it matters apparently...)

Weston tells me that when he grows up, he is going to live in Texas...and that I can come and visit him. Or, if he has a plane, he will fly and get me.

Weston loves to ride his bike, or Adelin's....or any bike.

He likes running through the sprinklers and eating otter pops to stay cool.

He is also very good with Cameron. He will hold him in his lap and then stick out his hand and ask for the pacifier...whether Cameron is fussy or not.

Weston is very excited to start kindergarten this year! He is looking forward to recess and making friends!

hey!!!!!!
if you want to see some thing super awesome watch this...........
p.s it is called Studio C..................................
p.p.s click here,here and here
p.p.p.s I'm obsessed with it
p.p.p.p.s this is Kaitlyn Marie Flake :)

Weston and Connor have some of the best arguments!

I overhead one they were having in the back yard the other day.

Connor is holding a stick.

Connor: Yes it IS a magic wand!

Weston: No it's NOT!

Connor: It IS!  And I will turn you into a Smurf that is blue!

(I wish I could mimic his voice and attitude here. He punctuates each word)

Too funny.

Okay. Now they are playing fetch. Same stick that was the magic wand...but now Connor is throwing it and Weston (the dog) is fetching it.

Good times boys....good times...

Connor Says...

We were eating dinner tonight...and talking about the lessons we had at church.

Connor usually gives us a run down of what he had for a snack in nursery. "Fishy cwackers, pwetsols and Cheerios". :)

Today Weston told us that he learned about the Holy Ghost. And Connor goes..."Oooo...scary! Ghosts scare me."

So innocent and cute. Made us laugh. :)

Falling To Heaven: By James L. Ferrell

If I were to make a list of books I've read that have helped to re-shape my thinking, this book would be on that list. So, I am recommending it to you. (Whoever "you" is...could be no one if no one reads this!) :)

A favorite part? ..."Two practices describe what might be considered the secret of the meek....This is the magic combination: Focus on our own sins and upon others' virtues. Do this, and our teaching, our thinking, our befriending, and our parenting will all be transformed for the better." 

I love that part because I know from experience that it is true. I feel so much more contentment in my life, (no matter what else is going on) when I focus on by own salvation and look for the good in the people around me.

~Jennifer

Cameron Lars Flake

I am finally posting pictures of the baby! I have more on my other camera...but these will do for now! I am going to post about the day he was born...eventually! 

Cameron is such a sweet baby. He is growing fast! Last week I weighed him and he was a whopping 12 pounds! That means he gained 3 pounds in a month...glad it was him and not me for once!

The only pictures I have of me pregnant with Cameron
 were taken by one of the kids while they were playing with my camera.

Cameron, fresh from the "oven"!!! :)

Ready to leave the hospital... 

A rare moment (in his early days) of  having his eyes open!

All the boys together.

Snuggle time with big sister Addie

 

"I'm watching you!!!" 

faith

hey, i made a new quote here's how  it goes


WHEN HAVING FAITH DON'T SAY ''WHAT IF'' SAY ''IT IS''


tell me what you think of it :)

love,
Kaitlyn Marie Flake

my mom and dad signed the papers to get a new house yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we don't have the key's yet but we will get them soon...........I hope!!!   

p.s i found out how to do a wink face on the computer it goes like this !)   :):) !)!)!)!)  
PPS this is Kaitlyn

an aspiring thought....

 "Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect.

It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections."

 

 

thank you for your comment ,Stephanie,and now my mom's blog will be much better

HI

FLAKE BABY NUMBER 5 IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

today i finished the book the long winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder  PS this is Kaitlyn

hi I'm going to take a little walk about around the wallaby PS you have to say this in a Australasian accent.

well my mom won't let me have a blog so she told me i could write on hers.if my mom thinks that a girl my age(10) shouldn't have a blog then i wonder what goes through her head.i wonder if she dreams that she is a gorilla riding on a unicorn off into the sunset.(that is what one of my friends teachers said on face book!)well until i find out i want to tell you this, 

 my brother Connor recently started wearing skirts.
 it doesn't help that today when my dad told me that he and Connor were out side when some boys came to get a boy that lives next door to us.and when they did they went away laughing. at first my dad said that he though nothing of it but then he noticed that Connor was wearing a skirt.he told Connor that he is a boy not a girl but then Connor said that he wants to be a girl but my dad said that he cant be a girl because he is handsome but Connor said no I'm pretty handsome! PS my dad was telling this to us.

well until the next time my mom/dad lets me go on the computer,

KAITLYN HAS LEFT THE BUILDING! 

Well...things are moving along with the purchase of our house! We had Brandon's cousins husband Larkin Palmer do our home inspection this week. He is the best of the best...very thorough and very experienced. We value his opinion a lot. He did the inspection on our Player Dr. house and just raved about the house and found nothing wrong with it. This house has a few minor issues which thankfully, the owners have agreed to fix. But, he told us that even if we made all the repairs ourselves, he'd still recommend we buy the house. That was comforting.

What else went on this week?

I had a doctor's appointment. I met Dr. Holmes for the first time. I like him. A few of my friends go to him and they have loved him as their doctor...so I figure I am in good hands. He asked me if I know a Joey Flake...(he is Brandon's first cousin). He then told me that he knows Joey's wife's (Paula's) family really well. So...it's still a small world I guess...even when you live in the city. Anyhow. My appointment went well. I am (as of last Tuesday) dilated 1cm and 75% effaced. I have another appointment this Tuesday. I am lucky because my brother and his wife (Sam and Lainie) live right by my doctor's office. Lainie has agreed to watch my boys for me when I go to my visits. The boys had a blast with Sam and Lainie. They made clay figures and watch cartoons together! :) I think Weston and Connor will be disappointed when they don't get to go over once a week to hang out!

Hmmm....what else did we do this week?

The girls made it through their second week at their new school. They are getting used to the change. We talk about how they will have to change schools again and how now they know that it takes a couple of weeks to adjust. The girls are being real troopers with these major changes. We also took the kids out to see the new house while Larkin was doing the inspection. They like the house and are excited for the big back yard and trees!

 Kaitlyn also got to go to her cousin Kara's birthday party this week. They randomly ended up in the same class at school! We didn't even know that the school I signed the girls up in was the school Kara went to! Kara is Brandon's cousin Kaija's oldest daughter. Adelin is the same age as Kara's sister Brooklyn. They play together at recess. I am sure glad for the tender mercy the Lord blessed us with for Adelin and Kaitlyn to have some family at school! They are very used to having cousins at school with them.

I found a thrift store that I like here. I got some deals on a few things to add to my "fat clothes" collection...so I will have something to wear after the baby is born. I am going to go back tomorrow because Monday is $1 day!

Friday, the boys and I went to the park with Tiffany and her kids and the little boy she babysits. They had fun running around and swinging. It is nice to be able to get together with my sister and do something spur of the moment! We have never lived near each other with us both being mothers. It's fun. The highlight of that trip was when we were leaving. A man got out of his truck...we thought he looked a little strange and were glad we were leaving. As we were loading the kids up...we saw the guy had a long piece of yarn....tied around a cat! He was taking his cat for a walk. You don't see that everyday.

Brandon and I were able to go on a date Friday night, thanks to my parents who watched the kids. Date nights are super important to us and it'll be a while before we can go out without taking the baby with us...so we were grateful for the alone time!

Then Saturday we got to go hang out with our friends the Bushman's. Jami invited us to the "Burger Bash" they were having at their house. She and Rick went all out with every burger topping you could think of...green chili sauce, onions, onion rings, bacon...you name it. It was good food and good company. Our kids get a long great together...so they just all played and played. Our kids didn't want to leave when it was time to go. I am so glad for good friends!!!

Oh. So, Connor has decided he wants to be potty trained. He has worn under wear all day today...even to church and hasn't had an accident yet (and it's almost 8 p.m.) He just decided yesterday morning that he wants to wear underwear. He peed his pants about 3 or 4 times...and I had to wash out pooey undies once. Potty training him was not on my "to do" list at ALL. I really don't like potty training. But, I guess he's ready...(for now). I don't think it would be wise for us to discourage him.

This is a long post. That's because it's Super Bowl Sunday. Brandon's watching the game and I'm bored! lol!

Happy Birthday to my Grandpa Barrett. I believe he is 87 today. :)

 
We found a house, made an offer and will be closing the deal by March 15th if not sooner!

The thing we love most about the house might be the huge yard! There are lemon trees, a grapefruit tree, a peach tree...and some other type of fruit tree. Maybe apricot?

I love that the garage is on the side of the house.

The house isn't huge but it isn't tiny. Bigger than our Pear St. house....over 1000 sq. ft. smaller than our Player Dr. house.

Anyhow. We are excited to have found a house!

Be not afraid

  
Brandon got a job offer on Friday from a company in Mesa!! We are so grateful to his sister Amy for telling him about this job opening and we are so happy for the job search to be over! Now we can move onto the next step!

These past 5 months....

what can I say about them?...

I can only give my point of view....because Brandon's experience in all this will be different than mine because we are two different people with two different perspectives.....but one thing that is the same for both of us is the confirming knowledge that no prayer goes unanswered.

 I have noticed that if I pay close attention, I can see how the Lord is preparing me for things to come. He did that with the Mill closing. He gave me prior trials of my faith....things I could never get through without relying solely on Him everyday. So, when the closure of the Mill was announced...my first thought was that "now is the time to put into practice what I have learned about trusting the Lord with all my heart."  I felt like I had gone through a "trial of your faith" boot camp...and now was the time for action! I am so grateful to have been prepared, by the Lord (through trial) for this most recent (and ongoing) trial. "Faith and fear cannot co-exist". I have learned that I cannot give into worrying about the future and still trust the Lord. It's just not possible. The worry cancels out the faith.

When we found out that the Paper Mill was going bankrupt, (just a few weeks after moving into our new house).....I remember being worried for just a moment. Brandon is very involved in the finances of the Mill...and he is an optimistic person (an example I try hard to follow) so I felt like no matter what, things would be okay. I have continued to feel that over the past 5 months.

One of our first thoughts after the closure announcement was that we needed to sell our new house. This happened sooner than we thought it would! Our house didn't even make it onto the market! What a blessing it has been to not have to worry about selling a house on top of looking for a job.

I'd be a big fat liar if I said that I have not worried, fretted or shed tears over the past 5 months. I have done some of that...but just as quickly as those feelings come...they have left. I know this is because of constant prayer....scripture study, the prayers of others, fasting (by others...not me, since I am pregnant) and the reviewing of Temple covenants. I love the words of the Initiatory ordinance.

Another thing that I have had to do during the past 5 months is to trust Brandon's ability to receive revelation for our family. Brandon and I are on the same page about a lot of things. But, when the job hunt started, I felt like we should be looking anywhere within the United States! I felt a very urgent need to not leave out any option. Brandon had the impression that we needed to focus on looking for a job in Arizona first and then branch out from there. (I hope I am not sharing too much personal information Brandon!)...but from this experience, I am learning more about the promise I made to harken unto my husbands counsel as he harkens unto the Father.

I read a quote yesterday that sums up my feelings about this trial...and all others I have been through and will go through. It is this: "Let us continue, brethren and sisters, to work in the name of the Lord our God, gathering wisdom and intelligence day by day, that every circumstance which transpires may minister to our good."

 We are going to move to Mesa (in 12 days) and stay at his mom's place there (and hopefully not drive my brother and sister in law crazy) while we look for a house to buy. I know this wont be easy...all of us in a little house...with a baby on the way...and the girls going to a new school...and Brandon learning a new job...but that's okay! Life can be smooth sailing even in the roughest of seas if we trust the Lord and keep an eternal perspective. That's what I am praying for...

*I love art! I am not sure who painted this picture...Liz Swindle or Greg Olsen or some other amazingly talented artist...but I am sure grateful for the talents of those who are able to make a visual representation of feelings.*

Reflection

2012~ LOOKING BACK

• moved into a new house and new ward
• made new friends
• first family trip to Disneyland
• trekked  for miles like pioneers and loved it
•  found out we are expecting a baby boy
• sold new house
• moved 4 times

2012 was a busy year full of change. 2013 looks like it'll include a lot of change also. We are learning to embrace change and look for what Heavenly Father is trying to teach us...individually and as a family.

2013~ LOOKING FORWARD

• new job
• new house 
• new ward
• new baby
• new friends
• new school for the kids
•  new chances to learn and grow