Out of Practice

Well, I have felt like blogging has been put on the back burner, which I hate cause it is my journal and it make scrapbooking SO much easier. But, I put it on the to do list and it is the last day of he week and I am getting it finally done. So here pictures of things we have been up to!

A week or so ago I was able to come home early from work, Dave went to school, and the kids were dying to go outside and luckily it was a nice day. I told Jonathan and Sarah to put on there shoes and this is what Sarah came outside in. She only early like shoes that she can put on these days cause she wants to put on her clothes or shoes HERSELF.
There were some city workers outside fixing the water line they broke and the guys were so patient with Jonathan and Sarah as they watched. One of the guys gave Jonathan a rock and he was So excited!

Hanging out!

About two weeks about I got so sick of Sarah's hair being so straggly that I just cut it. She and Jonathan were in the bath, Dave was at work- so I took her out and gave her a piece of candy and cut it! This is the before picture.

And this is the after! She did very good, and I felt like it turned out well. I still need to get a picture of when it is all done, it is very easy to do. I just just my straightener and within minutes she is ready to go!

Kaitlynn is coming to play with us once a week (while Liz is on bed rest), Jonathan and Sarah love to have visitors and jut love to play with Kaitlynn. Jonathan loves it esp cause there is someone new to tell what to do. Jonathan just loves people and thinks that every kid is his friend, he is learning how to be a friend back!

Jonathan and Sarah got cards from there Grandma for Easter and where very excited to open them up, they loved the candy bar they got!

On Friday I went out with my Mom to see Le Mis and before we went to the store and Jonathan wanted donuts- so we splurged and they each got a donut. They both got stars with sprinkles on them! When we sing twinkle twinkle we put our hands up in the air like stars, so Jonathan is showing that it is a star!

Sarah very excited about her donut and even said "Donut" in her own way. She held the bag of donuts all the way home and didn't even touch or open the bag- I was very impressed!

Being prepared

http://www.ldsmag.com/churchupdate/100303chile.html

This was on one of my friends facebook page, I was interested in it so I decided to read it. It was very awesome to read and feel the spirit how the Lord has directed this mission president and wife (in Chile Santiago East mission)to be prepared for the earthquake and how this earthquake is a humbling experience and bringing people unto Christ! It is long, but worth your time!

Enjoying

This past Sunday Dave went to an early meeting, which when the alarm went off I was like what day is it, what time is it, where are you going? Well, he had to remind me that he had a church meeting. So when he got back we were getting ready and he wanted to lay down, but Sarah wanted to be with her Daddy. Aren't they so sweet!

This past week it was nicer outside, so we went over to Papa's. Jonathan and Sarah went over on their cars and trike. Jonathan found his Spiderman helmet and so of course Sarah had to have a helmet too. It was very cute! But I had to pretty much push Sarah the whole way cause she was so SLOW!

Naps of course are a struggle, and this past week during one of the days she decided to cry and not nap. I went in there and talked to her about options that she had during quiet time. And one of the options was to take her blankets and rest on the floor. Well, she decided to incorporate this during bed time!

Last week I tried a new recipe from a blog and failed, but this week I pulled out a old good recipe and found redemption. Boy, do I feel good (and it was fast too)

Oh, and by the way I am caught up on scrapbooking for both Jonathan and Sarah! So HAPPY!

Crazy Couponer!

Like I have said before I am into couponing, and I have started to go to Rite Aid cause you can get a lot of stuff for way cheap! Well, this week I feel like I scored! I got all this (after rebate) for $5.28. I think that was very worth my time and energy! (Yes, I can't compare myself to Kristi who did even better)

Time to update!

I know I haven't had a post in a long time. I have had other projects that I have been busy with, but a blog post had been on my to do list!

My little independent girl! Sarah is learning so much these days. Her vocabulary is growing so fast! The other day she was saying money (they learn that word too fast), and yesterday she said McDonald's, well I was the only one that could tell. (We went for a play group with people in our neighborhood- I am too cheap to eat there). Sarah really wants to be independent, last Sunday she found brother's shoes and put them on all by herself! She really only likes to put on shoes that she can put on by herself, I am glad that we have some crocs in the closet. She is so proud of herself when she does something by herself. She is still working on putting clothes on by herself, she thinks everything goes on by her feet first. Sarah is doing so much better with obeying lately, I believe that the thing that has worked the best is being patient and consistent with her. She goes to her room a fair share of the time, and now she will go on her own and shut her door and then clam down pretty fast and be ready to come back out and do better! Last night I needed to cut Jonathan's hair (Dave worked late), so I decided that the best time would be after dinner but before baths. I worried about Sarah, and having her get in the hair. But, she did great she needed some reminders- but she just watched. Sarah is also doing better at just laying down when asked to get her diaper changed, which is so helpful. Naps, well that is another story. She pretty much doesn't nap anymore, and if she does it is for a few minutes. The picture below is Sarah making a mess during naps. This morning I cleaned out her room and kept only what was necessary to be in there so there was less to mess up. For some reason Sarah loves to be nakey, I have a picture of Sarah when I went and checked on her during the night and she had her bum sticking out and her head buried in a blanket. I didn't think it was appropriate to post the picture, although it was rather cute! She will be naked many times during the night. Once when I check on her, then Dave checks on her and then in the morning she will be naked when she is playing with brother. However on the positive side she never goes pee when she is naked! :) It is so nice to reflect and see that Sarah is learning and becoming more obedient each day!

Playing- Sarah got in the swing all by herself. She is very determined when she puts her mind to it!
"Babies"... what can I say? She loves'em!

My little boy! The biggest news is that Jonathan is pretty much potty trained!!!!! We are so excited, and I think that over all Jonathan likes it too. Jonathan has had very few accidents in the past week. Probably two during the day, and two at night- 8 days in underwear. That is going to preschool and primary and telling his teachers all by himself. I think that is pretty awesome, and yes I am a very proud mother. Jonathan's reward is going to the Movies at the mall. However there isn't any movies out for him to go see. I hope something comes along soon! Jonathan is rather cute, he will say random phrase or things that just make you laugh. Like, "It's Christmas", when ever it is snowing. Or I tell him something, he will say "Good idea Mom". He is very thoughtful and a great helper. The other day during breakfast Jonathan saw a spill and told me about it, I told him that I would clean it up after breakfast. Well, when I wasn't looking he got a rag and cleaned it up by himself. I was so surprised. He is doing very well at putting away the knifes, forks and spoons. And when Sarah is interested he likes to show her how to do it. Jonathan loves to watch different shows, and is pretty into them when he watches them (so one of the rules is going potty before he watches them or at least try). Jonathan loves to go into Sarah's room when he wakes up and play, they are great at entertaining each other! This picture above was Jonathan entertaining himself while Mommy cleaned, he was reading Monkey George- I thought it was rather cute!

FHE-Dave taught the lesson on Nephi building the boat, it was way cute and the kids just loved it!

Showing Sarah how to put the dishes away!

So what have I been doing, beside working tons. I have started the new craze of couponing! And I have changed everything to the binder system, and it took a lot of time. But using it this week, has been great. I have been saving a lot and Dave sees it too now. This past week I got five boxes of Quaker cereal squares for a total of $2.20. And the week before I got 12 boxes of fruit loops (yes we will be eating them for awhile- but that is okay) for free and made 24 dollars way cool huh. No it is not just cereal. Yesterday I went to Target and got 21 dollars worth of stuff for 8.73. I was pretty proud of myself, two free toothbrushes and a free box of band aids. Besides that, I have been scrapbooking ALOT. I got very behind with the holidays and life. But I am pleased to say that Sarah's book is all up to date and Jonathan's is not far behind. This next week I am going to be working on their Easter presents and I am pretty excited about them along with trying to work on Jonathan's scrapbook. Another wonderful thing is we paid off our credit card which really stresses me out. It is such a relief, and now we have a small school loan we need to pay off and our goal is 3 months. I really do hate debt! Another great thing is we are going to So Cal this summer and I am so EXCITED. We are going to be camping on the beach and then going to Disneyland! We have our reservations for the beach, the hotel, and our vouchers to Disney. Jonathan knows about the beach and talks about it all the time, and how we are also going to be seeing Blake and Landon. But, we haven't told him about Disney until it gets a little closer! We need a new tent if anyone has a two room tent that they love let me know, cause we will be purchasing one so that we keep sane for the week on the beach!

Dave is doing the same ol- school, work, and looking for jobs and everything that goes along with that. This week he was named the cashier of the week, which we are proud of him and his hard work. He enjoys his new position, more then he thought he would. If anyone knows of a social studies/history secondary ed teaching position let us know! Dave walks next month, I can't believe I am writing that- he will finally be a college graduate next month! (Technically he is already graduated as of December, but the commemoration ceremony is in April.) We will see where the Lord directs us after this. We are really hoping a teaching job, but maybe more school and working at Costco. Time will tell!

Sarah's Up to no good!

This is my independent girl trying to get dressed by herself!

Sarah has learned to get out of her crib successfully- no falls or anything! This equals - up to no good! Well, she started to get out of her crib at bed time but then we put a child poof lock on the inside of her door and she gave up. Then for naps she usual will stay in her room and then get out when she is done sleeping. Well, today she didn't sleep she played for an hour. And the reason I know this is because I heard this terrible hurt cry and found Sarah trying to open up her closet and in trying she pinched her finger. I have tried to put things away that I thought would hurt her or not be good. Well, she calmed down and then I put her in her crib and it didn't take long for her to fall asleep. Later I thought it was time to wake them up, well Sarah wasn't sleeping. She had got a Pampers wipes container that wasn't opened and still had the wrapping on it and every wipe was out of the box! She just made me laugh, and I thought she was sleeping! I should have known better! I should have taken a picture but I didn't! Oh well!

Jonathan enjoying Preschool

These are some pictures from Jonathan's school blog. These are a few of the things that Jonathan has been doing and learning at school! At the bottom is a little video of one of the latest things he has learned (I will try again later I can't get it to post)!

Sarah just LOVES BABIES!

Sarah JUST LOVES babies! Every time she sees Joesph she thinks that she needs to hold him!!! This past week the cousins came over and immediately Sarah wanted to hold him, although he is not much smaller then Sarah! Now that Joesph can sit it makes it easier, she sat down and then Joesph sat in front of her and she was in HEAVEN!
Giving Loves!

I had to include this cute picture of Sarah sleeping with her new pillow. She hasn't had a pillow before, but for her Birthday Grammy gave her a cute pillow case and pillow. Sarah loves her pillow and most of the time we check on her she is sleeping on it!

Sarah

Sarah Bear Getting ready to eat her marshmallow snack before she went outside to play! (oh and I needed to to the dishes and there weren't any small bowls)

I just loved these pictures! She is so cute!

Snowshoeing!

On Presidents Day we went snowshoeing up at Aspen and it was so much fun! We went with Kristi and Jason this year, and they loved it too! We had lots of fun making out own trail. I brought our semi broken camera and I lost some pictures, which were some of the guys skiing down the hills on snowshoes (which I am bummed).

We then hot hot cocoa and donuts! Jonathan loved it. Sarah stayed home with Grammy and Papa and was content playing by herself and being the center of attention.

It was a stormy that day, and the roads where icy and on our way home through the canyon we saw this terrible accident. But, no one was hurt, but it really shook me up.

Finally we got to Papa and Grammys and had Chili, and then we headed off to see "Princess and the frog". Jonathan loved eating popcorn (we brought microwaved popcorn) and watching a movie on the big screen. When we were leaving Jonathan wanted to know if we were going to do it again tomorrow. :) The movie had its good points but overall I didn't like the voodoo guy and his spirits. At one point Jonathan got scared and wanted to hold my hand.

That night we went with my parents and Kristi's family to dinner to celebrate Dads Birthday! It was fun to be together! It was a long fun day! We missed Dave the second part of the day cause of work, but at least we could go snowshoeing together!

Making Valentine Treats for Daddy!

We started making the chocolate dipped Strawberries, Jonathan was in charge of putting the sprinkles on the strawberries. although he was more interested eating them or tasting the chocolate.

I let him dip one, and he was so excited!

What a cute boy!

Of course we had to try them!

And they were GREAT!

We also made Oreo truffles and Sarah loved licking the left overs!

(She finally woke up from her nap! )

What a cute face!

Dave's Valentine Gift (I did add a few hearts to make it a little cuter).

I am excited to use our new down pillows!