halloween

We enjoyed creating our costumes for our annual Trunk-or-treat at church. This year I wasn't in charge and we really had fun!

On Halloween Eve, we went to a church in Justin and joined in their festivities!

Then when Halloween rolled around, we all dressed in orange for church and enjoyed a spooky dinner with our pals, The Braunersrither's. The best part was the Witches Brew!

We topped the night off rooting for the RANGERS!!!

I am rebelling!

I had a break down this week. I was very upset that I can't figure out what I want to do in my kitchen and don't have the time to figure it out. For me it takes lots of time shopping and searching to figure out all my options, prices, and processes to achieve my dream kitchen. I haven't made ONE space in this house my own yet. Don't get me wrong, we have worked hard and make some definite improvements. But nothing is even close to being complete. Not one thing is hung on any wall, except for a couple of towel hooks in the bathrooms. I finally got to the point of emotional break down and confessed to Tim how I felt.
On top of all of this that I am not accomplishing, I am also not finding time to do most things I enjoy or would want to spend my time doing. Things like baking, sewing, taking walks, making Halloween costumes, visiting friends, camping, blogging, and many others.
I can't lie, I did make time to visit my mom twice and go to the cabin, and got to our Stake Conference adult session, which I love. BUT NOW I'M REBELLING!
If you come by my house, it won't be neat and clean. I'm not going to stress about cooking awesome dinners. I'm going to enjoy my week making costumes and making plans for my house. Whether its looking online or dragging Tim to the store, I will accomplish something this week that has somehow evaded me in the past few months. I will feel happier, and hopefully a little lighter. I want to figure out my downstairs. More specifically my kitchen and family room.
I want to make some definite choices and steps toward a finished product!

Yes, before you all say it, I know I have had an....intense year! Between having a baby, moving into a new house, and all the trials my loved ones have been through I guess its no wonder why I have neglected to find the time. Oh, and my family is coming for Thanksgiving dinner in a month! I would like for my house to feel more like me.

The DIY Showoff

This awesome blog has great ideas! They are featuring a give-away for a Delta Faucet!
Check it out!!
http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/2010/09/diy-show-off-project-parade-giveaway.html


This is my fave - Pilar Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet with Touch2O Technology® and Soap Dispenser in Brilliance Stainless

feeling emotional

Parenting is most certainly the hardest thing...and we have to do it all the time. I love the baby stage and I am learning how hard it is to have my girls grow up into little women. I have a hard time letting the reality of this harsh world smack them in the face. I just want them to live in Strawberryland where everyone is friendly. I can not stand to think of the obscene things Ivy hears and sees in middle school daily. I don't like to think of my kid's teachers not thinking my child is as special as she really is. I don't want their creative spirits to be stunted. BUT - sometimes I feel lost. I don't know what to say or do to get through to them. Do i need to just accept the fact they won't do what I need them to do? You know when parents say "This hurts me more than it hurts you" I feel that a lot. I do not want contention in my home. I do not want to 'butt heads' with my kiddos. I know at times its inevitable, but why can't we slide on rainbows more often? Maybe its a side effect of school starting this week. Its been a change for us all. I have a hard time choosing my battles. Which one do I choose? Can i get more than one......or should I back off? Maybe its because we have had a crazy year. Moving out, staying with another (great) family, moving in, new baby, hard family times, crazy friend stuff going on??? I don't know. I want to have a home where the spirit dwells. I want to have home where we speak kindly to one another. I don't want to argue with my husband....I love him and don't want to waste our time being dumb and selfish. We know too many people whose marriage fell apart and I need to show my gratitude for my marriage more. I'm just trying to do what is right. I know mistakes will be made along the way, but its hard to swallow at times. I don't want my kids to feel like I'm hounding them all the time. I want them to learn though! Where is the balance???

Most importantly....

I forgot to share with you all that we had a new 'lil guy join our family!

Ezra Kane Aaron Gandy

June 7, 2010

7lbs 2 oz

special day

I am so grateful for my wonderful Tim. He is a great husband and loving father. He baptized and confirmed Klover. Then he was able to give Ezra a blessing through the power of the priesthood.

We were blessed to have family come in from out of town and friends come share this special day for our family. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed everyones company. I know Klover will be a great example to her peers and I pray she can show her love for the Savior to those around her.

Its been so amazing having Ezra here with us. He brings such a sweet spirit to our home and I have loved watching my kiddos fall in love with him.

October was my last blog....

I have so much to catch up on. I will get to it. For now I will just start with January 2010.
We started the year off great with our great friends at the Jokisch's home. I think this makes 4 years now that we have been doing this. Playing games, talking, eating, and apple cider.

Tim and I wanted to have a huge New Year's day party! So we invited all our friends over to play games all day. Lots of great people showed up and we all shared yummy food. Thanks to Zack we played The Beatles' Rock Band. Daniel scored 9 points in Taboo (unreal!) and we played Pictionary Man to name a few. Tim tried to draw "Love Shack" but all I could figure out was "My House of Love is Falling Down!" Needless to say, many jokes have been made about that that one. I blame it on Pregnancy brain.

We have had one heck of an 'arctic blast' come to Texas. School was cancelled one day, Tim had to stay home from work, and we were all freezing! It actually got down to 7degrees here. Our water pipes at church were frozen, so church was cancelled today. I am looking forward to our day at home and hoping to listen to General Conference from last October. Tim made me muffins, my favorite, for breakfast. Its supposed to start warming up and become 'normal' temperatures again. I'm lookig forward to that.

I have been feeling the baby move for about 5 days now. I am 18 weeks alongs and each night as I lie in bed, I feel the baby move around and it very comforting. Tim has yet to feel it!

It has been a great month for The Cowboys so far and we had so much fun watching the game last night. The Anderson's and Josh and Whitlee came over. We had fajitas, refried beans, spanish rice, and queso. Yum-O dinner. Then they played great and won! We are so excited to watch them conquer The Vikings next week!

We are looking forward to the rest of this month, including my baby turning 2! Yes, Zman will be 2 on January 19. We had 2 showings for our home last week and hope to have more and find a buyer!!

camping at ray roberts

Our family went to Ray Roberts for a night of camping. Josh and Whitley met up with us and we packed our cars and went. We had to hike our gear to our site, and it stunk! But we finally got camp set up and we were hot! We all walked to the beach there, where the water was cold! Then we got a call from my dad and Rebecca to meet them on the boat dock for some tubing and kneeboarding. It was a beautiful weekend and perfect for camping and playing in the water.

That night after all were asleep Josh and I were sitting by the now dead fire. It was very dark. We heard some rustling in the trees and then we saw a skunk! It walked around our campsite and we were preparing to RUN! I hated to think that our tent might get sprayed bc I can't even think of how to get that smell out. So, I grabbed the closest thing...and threw some lighter fluid on the fire. Flames shot up and the skunk promptly turned his back to us and stuck his tail up. I did it again for fear of the smell.....and he ran away. SO glad to have escaped that!

Zephraim at 20 months

My little guy thinks he is all grown up. He wants to drink out of a cup, refusing a sippy most of the time. He talk so much gibberish, like he is really saying something sooo important. He rips his diaper off a lot. He just does not want to wear one. Its so hard to get one back on him. Its ok because he goes on the potty sometimes. His 'get to sleep' routine is getting shorter and if he is just exhausted, he will point to his bed and I can just put him in without reading a book. He is finally wearing shoes...Real shoes and doesn't complain about it as much. He went for his first tube ride. He has started get a 'time out' when his choices are bad. He loves, loves to read. He loves Dr. Suess books. He even tries to read to himself. He helps with family chores like laundry, picking up toys, and dishes. He is eating most eveything now....had his first hotdog, chocolate, peanut butter, and Capri Sun. We have been going to our city Library for story time and he can sit by himself and do the actions with the other kiddos. He says 'bless you' when I sneeze. He loves to give big hugs while running to you with his arms wide open. He is a sweetheart and we love him!!

RAINY DAY

I woke up to giggles coming from our back yard. Ivy and Meadow were jumping on the trampoline...in the drizzling rain and were all wet. I told them that they probably should have asked first. Then I left for church. A few hours later we went to the store and as we were bringing in the groceries, Zephraim really wanted to play outside. So Klover got her rainboots on and I helped Z put his on. I thought they might walk around a bit, but they splashed in all the puddles. Zephraim found the spot where the rain funneled off of the roof, and laughed so much as he soaked his clothes! They even ended up lying down on the puddles and making water angels. We had so much fun laughing at them and had lots of laundry to do.

Cowboys vs. the 49ers

The gang went out to see the new Cowboys Stadium at the second preseason game. My friend Mary was able to get us tickets at less than $35 each. We all piled in her car and parked at a medical office for $20. We saw parking as much as $60. The stadium was amazing and air conditioned. The new screen was so big and I watched it more than the live game. Tim and I split a soda and were able to keep the souvenir cup!

Back to school

Ivy is in 6th grade. Klover is in 2nd grade and Meadow is showing a zero in her hand because she is going to Pre-K. Ivy can barely reach her locker
Art class, first class of the day at Gene Pike Middle School
Haylee and Ivy ride the bus home to our house everyday after schoolKlover in her brand new school, Clara Love Elementary
Meadow goes to Justin Elementary

Z is so handsome

I have mentioned before how I love taking pics of Z on Sunday b/c he looks so handsome, but I loved his new green sweater vest. AND he went to nursery the whole time and I couldn't hear him crying down the hall....although tim did stay with him all but 15 minutes!! At least its a little improvement. I am so thankful for my great friends/nursery leaders. Kari takes good care of him while he is sad in there, and he loves when Shauna comes to do singing time.

I also included some pictures taken this summer that I thought were silly. He loves my vacuum. He has a toy vacuum but prefers mine. He fell asleep in his high chair after dinner one night. He was pretending to be a dog at Brooke's house and climbed in the kennel.

New Babies!

Milane

Sam

Erin, Maryclaire, and Suzi

I have to take a minute to mention all of the wonderful babies born recently! As many of you know, I am a huge fan of child birth. I LOVE it. I love experiencing it and watching it and talking about it. I LOVE IT! So when my good friends asked me to be at their births, I was elated.

Suzi's little girl came on July 23, 2009. I got a call from Suz about 1:30 am and she was ready to go. Tricia picked me up and we headed to Denton Presbyterian Hospital. I was taking photos until she was ready to push. Our neighbor brought Suzi's daughters up there, so I left to help them find the room and by the time we got back, little Erin Louise had been born. She looked like Maryclaire to me but like Jane when her eyes were open. She was 9lbs 7oz and I was shocked b/c Suzi did not look like she was carrying that size!! She was beautiful and the best, pinkest baby I had ever seen. So glad you are here Erin!

Tricia's son came on July 27, 2009. We were worried he may be big, so we were glad he came a couple weeks early. She had a slow labor but after her water broke, things really picked up. She had some hard contractions and nothing seemed to relieve her, then it was time. She had so much fluid! Samuel Thomas was born at 9:25pm weighing in at 9lbs 4oz. As soon as Dale picked him up I could not believe how much he looked like Hannah. I could even imagine Hannah's little voice coming out of him. It was so great to be there and be a part of this birth. Suzi, Sandee, Sheree, Stacee, Dale, Mickayla, Haylee, Madi, the midwives Jean and Betty, and another helper were all there. I was able to stay with Tricia and help hold Sam until she was ready to ride home. Which is what I did 2 and half years ago when Benjamin was born.

Liz's sweet baby girl came August 9, 2009. The day before I got a few texts letting me know her contractions had started and to be on call. I received a text at 1:35am and made my way to North Hills hospital. Liz was doing a great job and I was glad to be there for her. The hospital was very strict on vistors so they kicked me out before Milane Eliza was born at 8:06am. She was 7lbs 1oz. She reminded me of Klover with all her dark hair and she had the most perfect little face and head. She did not looked squished or swollen. I had fun chatting with Liz's mom, dad, and sister Laura. Mike's family then came to meet the baby and I was able to stay with Liz until Mike got back from the nursery with Milly.

Chuck E Cheese

Friday night family fun! We packed up the kiddos, ate at Taco Bueno, then headed out to Grapevine to play Chuck E Cheese games. The Brock family and the Hamblin family joined us. They had a new game where you ride a horse and Zeph liked it at first then it began to gallop and he wanted down. The skee-ball machine kept taking my tokens. Z liked the slide in the 'toddler zone.' The girls all got foam darts that you use air to shoot, and banana LaffyTaffy which Meadow didn't like. I had been planning to take the kids there since last Thanksgiving break and finally we made it. The timing was great because they had free tokens coupons emailed to us for their birthdays. We had a fun time and Tim spilled hot sauce all over his pants. Hehee!

Super fun Saturday

We got up this morning, after going to the Bastian's for salad and pizza the night before, and clean, clean, cleaned! After sorting produce with the Norwoods, having Kira, Stephanie and Kaceson over to play our house was a MESS! We had a house showing at 11am so it was important for it to be nice again. The cleaning made us late to our birthday party for Mr. MALAKI! He invited us to JumpZone and we all had so much fun. Zephraim really enjoyed the huge pirate ship with super fast slides! The girls ran around like crazy doing the Batman obstacle course and slide, going up the elephant circus slide, and playing air hockey. I even took Malaki on the circus slide a few times. Z only fell off the see-saw once and there were minor elbow burns. We had a great time and stayed for a few hours. To top it off, we got balloons to bring home. Thanks Mendoza's! When we got we found out the showing had been cancelled but no one told us!!

For dinner Joey, Kira, Zack, Tim and I went to Twisted Root Burger Co. in Roanoke. Tim and I split a cheddar burger topped with onion straws and I could barely eat half of my half!! We had fries and their awesome homemade root beer. We all really liked it and were so full!

Six Flags

Ivy and Klover

Haylee and Ivy

Haylee, Ivy, Klo and Tim

Every summer the girls get to go to Six Flags because they earn tickets through the Read to Succeed Program, just like I did as a kid. Tim took Ivy, Klover, Mickayla, and Haylee this year.

Klover refused to go upside down on any ride, but everyone else rode everything. Ivy's favorite rides were the Titan and Flashback. Klover really enjoyed the Sidewinder,BigSpin, Judge Roy Scream, and Crazy Legs. Its a tradition to get a 'PinkThing' on the way out of the park. They packed a picnic lunch and went out to the car to eat it. The sole of Klo's tennis shoe came off as they were walking back to the park. She was very upset and made Tim bury it in some gravel in order to retrieve it on the way back to the car to drive home. Tim thought she would forget about it, but if you know her, then you know she not only remembered it but brought it home and asked me to hot glue it back on. Silly girl, they were Ivy's old shoes and needed to be thrown away. Ivy is hard on clothes and shoes, so not many get passed down.

What a fun daddy-daughter day!!

Boating At Ray Roberts

Grandpa Jason and Rebecca invited us to go boating the Monday after July 4th weekend. We got up early packed some food and we were off. At first Z didn't like having a life vest on, but it got better thru out the day. We spent most of our time tubing and swimming. Meadow and Z fell asleep and had good naps in the cabin. We had so much fun and ended up with some awesome pics! The next day Tim was so burnt! He was sore for 2 weeks, had all the peeling and could barely wear any clothes. Thanks for a great time!