It's Winter!

Right around Christmas we got a lot of snow and it was fun for the boys to get to go outside and play. I was especially grateful that Jeff was here to help with the shoveling. I have to say Thank you to my mystery neighbors who came by with a snow blower at one point and to my father in law who came over with his after an especially bad snow fall. It was nice having a white Christmas, there is something about needing the snow to feel like Christmas.

 

 

 

Updates

 
Isn't he cute?

 
I had to show a picture of Miguel's breakfast a few weeks ago. Broccoli and waffles-he loves broccoli-I usually have to fight Trae to eat anything remotely healthy, but Miguel can't get enough of it.

 


 

Traeton and I love to have this family favorite-hot chocolate and toast. I have loved this on cold days since I was little. Jeff thought it sounded like an odd combination and no way will he dip his toast into the hot chocolate, but the boys and I sure love it.

Jeff's new job

 

Here is a picture of Jeff hard at work. He said it was about 20 below in this picture. I do feel terrible for him, but I am proud of his hard work and diligence to make things nice for our family. Thanks, Jeff-We Love You!!

I can hardly wait any longer

I hate that all my life I have been fanatic about timelines. As soon as classes would start when I was in school I would figure out how many pages I had to read each week to stay caught up with the syllabus and use a separate calendar just to mark my school reading, tests, assignment schedule. It doesn't stop there, I am always jotting on the calendar how many days there are left to something. Pregnancies are the worst because there are trimesters, months, weeks, and days. I am always marking the next big thing coming up and then counting down the days. Can you say Obsessive/ Compulsive. Right now there are a lot of those things on the schedule. Christmas, New Year's, Tara's wedding, baby shower, Miguel's 3rd birthday, Stake Women's Conference, Baby due date, Stake Activity night-that I need to figure out what to do for our ward. There are always a million things on the list, but right now I just want to get to Wednesday afternoon-Christmas Eve. Jeff has been gone two weeks now and he will be home sometime late afternoon on Wednesday. I am missing him so much right now.

A lot of the plans we had for our family have taken on changes over the years. It seems that we, or I, try so hard to figure out exactly what we need to do and then it never seems that God has the same plan for us. I guess that controlling nature of mine needs some adjusting and I just haven't gotten the message. You would think by now I would remember to ask the Lord what is best for our family before I map out our future. I am learning, we are learning to rely on the Lord and I am feeling the Savior's love for me through all of the challenges that we are faced with. We have been so blessed these last couple of weeks and I can't express enough how thankful I am for the help of others. I am not so prideful that I can't say this has been a hard year for us. We have had a lot of ups and downs, but I know I have a Heavenly Father that loves us and with the Lord's help things do work out. I believe that if I remain faithful and do my part, the Lord will make up the difference where I might lack.

Jeff started his job two weeks ago and he was surprised by the kindness and generosity of those around him. He met a man and his wife at the company party after only being there for a couple of days and they were talking about their families. Well, for some reason this man felt compelled to ask Jeff if he could help us get a nice gift for our 5 year old. Without really even knowing us or our situation, he gave Jeff a gift that we have wanted to get for Traeton, but could not afford at this time. Do I believe in miracles? Would we have been okay without it, would Traeton have been okay without it? Of course, but I do not believe it was a coincidence or that this man was not prompted by the spirit to offer us some help this Christmas year. I just hope that as things turn around for us and we work through our own challenges, that we will one day be able to repay the generosity that we have been blessed with. Thank you to those near strangers that have come into our lives and blessed us this year. Weeks ago, I told Jeff this will be a Christmas we never forget and I thought that would be because of the struggle it would be for us to do all that we wanted to. I was so wrong. This will be a Christmas we never forget and it is because of the Lord and the way I have been able to witness his miracles in my life. I have been able to see how the Lord uses others as instruments of his will and it makes me want to be more in tune to hear the promptings of the spirit so that I might be able to help those around me.

It's been a while

It has been hard for me to formulate any coherent thoughts these last few weeks. Sometimes it feels like there isn't any rhyme or reason why things happen as they do. I am learning that change is inevitable and I have to accept that. I am trying to make the best of the situation we have found ourselves in. Jeff is now working in Vernal,Utah and he has been there one week. I need to thank my sister for her suggestion and for Betz and his referral.

Maybe Jeff and I will never have that ideal work-family relationship or maybe there are more families out there that have to work apart from each other, but we are trying to make the best of what we have. Since our marriage, back in 2001, we have always had jobs where Jeff worked nights or opposite my school or work schedule. There have been a few times when Jeff had "normal" work hours and I am thankful for those times, but we have learned how to deal with the changes that come upon our family.

It is not easy, as much as I pray that it will be, this life is difficult with its ups and downs. I am grateful for the blessings in my life. Thankful for my husband, who is willing to work hours away from his family-how lonely it must be for him. I atleast, have the boys to keep me company and to help me pass the time. I am also thankful that Betz is working in Vernal too and has been able to take Jeff out a couple times.

I am especially thankful for my family. Usually I am okay, but there are times when I get down or frustrated or lonely and I am thankful that I have people around me that care about me and our family. For example, it always happens that when Jeff is not around my car breaks down. Always happens, I think it hates me or something. Well this week was no different. I was with a client and all of a sudden we saw smoke or steam coming from under the hood. I wasn't too concerned because this has happened before, we had a coolant leak. Well, a gentleman came over and said he thought it was probably a hose that broke given the huge amount of antifreeze all over the ground. I called Jeff. I don't know what he could do with no way to come and rescue me, but I still needed to hear from him-knowing he would make it all seem okay. He immediately called his Father and before I knew it his Dad and brother were towing the car and I was given his mother's car to use. I can't express how much that meant to me to know that it was going to be okay. That, even without Jeff, his family is more than willing to step in and help me when I need it.

Then, knowing that our finances are strained right now, his parents gave me some money for Christmas. Honestly, I had not bought one single thing for Christmas. I will always be grateful for the kindness that Jeff's family has always shown to me. I have never had the terrible stories to tell about the in laws and I have always felt loved, accepted and appreciated. Thanks to the Keller's for all they have done for us over the years.

Finally, yesterday my sister Tara called and asked if we wanted to come and hear Keaton's Christmas program at school. I was hesitant, given my rambunctious boys, but it was so nice to see Keaton smiling and singing and to get to spend the day with my sister. After the program Tara took both my boys, along with her Bella and I was able to go and get some Christmas shopping done. I know there is more to Christmas than what our kids get and the gifts we buy, but I have never before wondered how we were going to pay for Christmas. We don't have a credit card and neither of us wanted to get one, just for Christmas. My sister reassured me that it's okay to not get the kids great big gifts-or for Santa to not get them great big things. I just didn't want Trae to be disappointed, but I realized that he and Miguel are good kids and they will be happy with whatever they get, especially since they are only 5 and 2. With the money from my in laws, and the time, thanks to my sister, I spent the next hour getting quite a bit of my Christmas shopping done. This will be a Christmas Jeff and I will never forget.

To wrap this up, I then spent the rest of the night with Tara and Bella at her house and Costco. I love my sister. We come from a very emotional family-often loud and outspoken, and Tara and I have had our share of disagreements over the years, but I am grateful for her sisterhood and her friendship. I feel that experience binds us together and helps us relate to others and as I have grown I am learning to love unconditionally.

Christmas time already?

 
 
 
 





So, we couldn't wait long to get going on the Christmas tree. I love Thanksgiving, but Christmas is my favorite. I love the lights, the music, the food, the parties. It is all good. I don't always like buying gifts, but that is because it is hard for me to find that perfect, meaningful, yet inexpensive gift. It seems everything always costs so much these days. Anyways, we wanted to get the tree up and the boys made sure we didn't stop until it was all done.



Note the growing baby bump-I am really starting to feel the weight of this baby. We are thinking about the name Chloe, but I still like Carmen. Only 11 weeks to go!



With all the excitement of getting everything out, Miguel slipped and hit his head on a lamp. Poor kid-he knew what to do. He asked for the ice pack. We thought he looked too cute to get by without a picture.

Thanksgiving Day

The day started out with making truffles-of course I forgot to get a picture of the finished product-believe me I was very proud of the way they turned out. Miguel liked the leftover chocolate I left on the table-as you can see.

 

Thanksgiving Dinner was great at my mom's. We ate a great lunch at Jeff's parents, but the camera never made it out. I have got to get better with taking pictures.

 

 

Miguel was so tired from all the festivities that he fell asleep before we even got to dinner. It was nice to have the day to see family and spend time with the ones we love.

 

Favorite Things

Thanks Tara for tagging me-I usually don't keep up with these things. I thought this one was cute though so here goes.

8 Favorite TV shows-in no particular order
*Law and Order-SVU
*Tyra Banks talk show
*Lipstick Jungle
*Worst Week
*Grey's Anatomy
*Desperate Housewives
*Life
*ER

8 Things I did Yesterday
*Had a presidency meeting for Relief Society
*Worked on session notes for work-turned them in
*Picked up Trae from school
*Made lunch
*Cleaned house
*Met Jeff across town-dropped off kids so I could go to work
*Made dinner
*Had family home evening

8 Favorite Restaurants
*Sizzler
*Applebees
*Wendy's
*Winger's
*Mandarin House
*Pizza Hut
*Can't think of anymore

8 Things I am looking forward to
*Christmas lights
*birth of our baby girl
*Tara's wedding
*Sharen and Memo to start their family
*Jeff getting a steady paycheck
*Miguel getting potty trained
*Christmas music
*Christmas Spirit

8 Things on my wish list
*healthy baby
*less contention amongst my kids
*For Sharen to get pregnant (when ready)
*For my boys to understand meaning of Christmas
*Less suffering
*No more broken bones in my family.
*Read a good book
*Take a bubble bath without interruptions

Dancing with the Stars

For the past 28 weeks, I have seen my body change little by little as this pregnancy has been progressing, but it seems like in the last 3-4 weeks I have gotten really big. And that's okay- I am pregnant, but it is still hard to handle that when you have struggled with weight since puberty. Prior to getting pregnant I worked really hard, joined a gym, went for walks with the boys and actually felt good about the way I looked.

Well, I have been feeling sorry for myself and battling that inner voice that says I am just not good enough and not as beautiful as all the women around me. It probably didn't help that as I turned on the T.V. last night Dancing with the Stars was on showcasing beautiful women. Well, we only watched for a few minutes, but my sweet Traeton managed to make all my negative thoughts disappear as he said, "Mom, you should dance on that show." I love my beautiful boys and their personalities. He then said, "You might need to practice a little bit though." I told him I would love to take a dance class after this baby comes and he said I should. Jeff and I just laughed, but it is funny how that quick comment made me feel so beautiful.

It's a beautiful day!

I just want to tell you all about my wonderful weekend. I didn't get to go on a shopping spree or anything, but we did get to spend the whole day together as a family. Saturday morning I got up and decided it was finally time to get the stairway painting project completed. We started painting the stairs @ March and still it was not done. Just as I was getting everything out Jeff came home. I thought he had left to go to work, but he took the day off and went out to get some Christmas ideas. He helped me tape and prep the stairs and then I painted while he went out with the boys and raked leaves. It was nice to be working around the house together. Then we all got ready and went out to COSTCO. This was our first time since the new warehouse opened here in Pocatello and it was so much fun. We didn't even buy anything, except a slice of pizza and some ice cream, but it was the best couple of hours I could have spent. Traeton and Miguel loved looking all over the store-going up and down every isle. I thought it was going to be a nightmare, but it went surprisingly well. The sampling was fun and seeing the kids all excited was the best part.

It probably doesn't seem like much to some people, but for us to be able to spend the whole day together was quite uncommon. Our lives seem so busy and rarely do we get a moment of peace together. The boys are both at great stages and it is fun to see their development and desire to learn more about everything around them. I can't say that I want to go to Costco every Saturday, but it sure made for a cheap family activity.

Boise trip

We had a great weekend! We have been promising Trae that we would take a trip before the baby gets her and with the holidays coming up, we knew we needed to get it out of the way so we packed our bags and headed to see Sharen and Memo. It was a quick trip, but it was fun. The boys always have a good time with Sharen and Memo-the minute we get there Traeton just gets so excited, almost uncontrollable. Sorry Memo. But really we all have a great time and don't ever have enough time.

I had to get a picture of this pretty girl sitting on the rocks. I am so envious of her long, healthy hair. Sharen you are so beautiful-Thanks for working so hard to make our weekend nice. It really meant a lot to us. The boys love to visit and I know they won't ever forget the ducks and geese, we may have to feed them on every trip from now on. We love you and Memo and are so grateful for your patience and willingness to help out with the boys.

Saturday night we had a pizza/pool party with Sharen, Memo, Jared, Tiffany and their boys Andrew and Kyle. It was fun to have them all there and the mess stayed at the hotel, not my house. We also got to hear the boys Primary program on Sunday and that was so fun to be there with them. Thanks Jared and Tiffany for the fantastic lunch and for making it work on such short notice. You guys are amazing and we really admire all that you do as a family.

How cute

So I went to go downstairs to check on Miguel this afternoon and Trae told me that he is sleeping. I arrived in the toy room to see this beautiful load of laundry. How cute is that. Apparently, Miguel likes to use the laundry basket and a pillow as his chair. He just curled up and fell right to sleep. I love moments like this.

We need a name...

So I am now 6 months pregnant (25 1/2 weeks) and we are at a loss for a name for this baby. I have looked over every baby name website on the internet and nothing is really standing out to me. I think I like something and then a few days later I just don't like the way it sounds anymore. We would love some suggestions if you have any. There are a few that I like- Marissa, Madeline, Veronica,Cora, Caroline, Carmen and Brylee. Jeff likes Brylee, but I don't know if I am fond of it or not. Trae likes Sally-isn't he so cute. Really we are not leaning for any one name yet, so if you have heard of any pretty girl names let me know.

Down on my Luck

So, everyday as I am driving to work I pass by this one corner and there is always a homeless person standing there with some sign that says Please Help. I know I should be more Christlike, but it is starting to get to me. There is this one guy that is there probably 4-5 times a week and he has been around for @ 3 months. His sign says "Down on my luck". The other day he was looking at me while I was stopped waiting for traffic to clear and I just about rolled down the window-not to give him money, but to yell at him. I wanted to tell him it has nothing to do with luck. 4 days a week I pack up my kids, I drive across town so my sisters can watch them and I go to work. Do I want to do it? Is it always easy or enjoyable to work and keep up with the demands of life and family? No, but Jeff and I are not where we are because of luck. We are making it work, because we struggle and we work real hard to provide for our family. I don't believe that people end up where they are because of chance or fate. We all make choices.

Granted, I know hard times come and we don't always choose the bad things that happen to us, but we have the right to choose how to respond to them. You either let life take over or you take control of your life. Jeff was laid off from his job last week. That is two lay offs in less than one year. I had my moment-self pity, and all that comes with that. The fears about the future, the holidays, the bills, the upcoming baby and loss of health insurance. The list goes on and on and I struggled with the reasoning of why this would happen to us again. But, I am thankful for a husband that knows how to pray, ask for help, pick himself up, get a job and get to work. I am one of those that wants to wallow for a little while. I get angry and confused. Two days after the lay off I had to teach a lesson in Relief Society about being Thankful on a daily basis. It was that lesson that helped me see that I am so blessed. I have what I need and my faith is strong that we will get through this. I know that the Lord is looking out for us, he cares and I can feel his love for me. I don't understand or know how things will end up, but we will be okay-I am sure of that.

Happy Halloween!

Traeton looked so cute as Scooby Doo this year. He especially loved that he was able to go on a walk with his class around his school to show off his costume.
We got to stay and see Traeton in his class during snack time. It was so fun to be there with him and enjoy his great day.
Miguel has been looking forward to being a fireman for a while now. He has always had a love for fire trucks. I have to say he has to be the most adorable little fireman I have ever seen.

The kids had a great time going to the church for Trunk or Treat and then we went and saw some family members. It was a nice night, not too cold-really nice for the kids to be out trick or treating. Jeff even got in on the action as the Headless Horseman- I will try to post a picture of him a little later. He rode his black horse and everything. It was quite the sight.