May

Well, I haven't had much time to blog lately. It has been a busy summer! We have been having fun though. I want to end my blog soon, and print it out into a book, so I'm going to try and catch up and then finish later this year.
In May Jonathan graduated from preschool, and Jacob graduated from Joyschool! I don't have any good pictures from Jacob's graduation, he doesn't like to stand still!!
Here's Jacob, Dad, and Katelyn waiting for Jonathan to come in!!




And here's a great picture of Jonathan during graduation! He was so excited. He went to a Baptist preschool, so it was funny to see him sing all the songs like "this little light of mine". He is officially a kindergartner now. Where has the time gone?


At the end of May, Katelyn and I flew to Texas together(A nice mini-vacation!) We went for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary party. We had so much fun! It was a weekend packed full of fun with my family. And we threw my parents a huge party that had a great turn out! I didn't take very many pictures that weekend, I was too busy having fun!! Here is one of a mariachi band playing a song for my parents at a restaurant downtown on the riverwalk! We also took family pictures that weekend, so I will post some of those too!!

Reading

I have a problem. I keep going to the library, and/or Barnes and Noble. I need to stop. All of the sudden I am on a reading kick. I have like 5 books piled on my nightstand. My TBR stack.(To be read). All of the sudden I have come across several books to read and people have recommended books to me, and now I just want to sit and read all day. I don't want to clean my house, I just want to read! haha! In fact I'm trying to hurry and finish the book I'm on, so I can start the next one. I told you its a problem. Not that I don't want to read the one I'm on, I am just excited for the next one. So I had to make myself put my book down to clean up and start dinner. We are having the elders over for dinner, so I need to clean up and get ready for that, and I suppose I should try and go exercise too. So I will have to put my book on hold for now. I'm going to try and jog while my kids are riding their bikes along with me. Wish me luck.

Mother's Day

I had a nice relaxing Mother's Day! The boys helped Joe make me breakfast and then we all went to church. I love being a mother! It is the best job in the world! I can't imagine not being a mother!
Especially to these two silly boys!



And this adorable little gal!


I am truly grateful to be a mother. It is so hard sometimes. Well, a lot of the time. But it is so rewarding. I know that God has sent me these children and I couldn't have asked for better ones! They are amazing. They are so smart! My only complaint is that they are just growing too darn fast! Time is just flying by. Jonathan is registered for kindergarten. Jacob is learning to read, and Katelyn is already pulling herself up to stand! Where did the time go! I love them so much! I am really enjoying Motherhood!

Happy Anniversary!!

Today my awesome husband and I are celebrating 7 years of marital bliss!
I am so blessed to have a wonderful husband! We went out to celebrate our anniversary on Friday. We went out to one of our favorite restaurants, TGI Fridays, and went to the temple! It was awesome! I love being his wife. He is my best friend, and I am so lucky that I get to be his wife forever! I feel like a princess living happily ever after!

Shelf Reliance Giveaway

Enter to win some shelf reliance shelves on one of my favorite food storage blogs!
http://everydayfoodstorage.net/

update

We have been busy around here. Never a dull moment.
My awesome husband was promoted to captain! I'm so proud of him. He is such a hard worker. I made him wait to take his boots off the other day so I could get a picture of him in his uniform. As you can see, he was excited. haha!


Katelyn is a busy girl. She is 8 months old, and getting around so fast! I need to get a baby gate. I didn't have stairs when the boys were little, so I didn't have to worry about putting up a baby gate! I also have to sweep more often! But I probably should be doing that anyway!!




Jacob is working on learning to read, and he is registered for preschool for next year. He is excited! He is a busy little man and I think he will love the structure that it brings!

Jonathan is registered for Kindergarten! I can't believe it. I guess he's not a baby anymore. Kids just grow too fast! He is excited to start "real" school.

As for me, I am working around the house.(only 4 bags to go!) I am busy keeping up with everyone.

I realize a lot of my posts lately have been about spring cleaning, but that has been on the brain. Well, I have hit my 40th day (from my 40bags in 40 days). I had a goal to get rid of 40 bags of junk/trash in 40 days. Life has been busy lately. Joe was promoted, I received a new church calling, Katelyn is crawling, Jonathan is registered for Kindergarten in the fall, and Jacob is registered for preschool in the fall! So, I have only gotten rid of 34 bags in 40 days! I am going to extend the time 10 more days to finish my 40! I am really enjoying going through my home and just getting rid of stuff! Toys we don't play with, clothes that don't fit, things we don't need, and dishes we don't use. It has been great! I have also been shopping less (I know, shocking) I have been trying to focus more on my home and family. I am really enjoying life right now!

Spring Cleaning

I've been cleaning upstairs all day. I'm trying to stay busy and not pay attention to the depressing weather outside! I got rid of two bags of trash and one of give-away stuff. And I pretty much used a whole bottle of febreeze in my boy's room. Ok, not a whole bottle. Every time I turn around that room has a funky smell. Is it a boy thing? haha!



Ignore the unmade bed. The sheets are in the dryer!

And no, I don't know how to take the date off the pictures. I haven't read my camera's manual.

Welcome Spring!

Today is the first day of Spring! I am so ready for Spring and summer! As I get older spring and summer are now becoming some of my favorite seasons! And not just because I can send my kids out to play! haha! I love taking walks in the evening because it stays light out so late! I love working in the garden, and actually having green grass! Yes, until I moved to North Carolina I thought grass stayed green year round.
Yesterday we went and bought everything for our garden! I'm so excited to work on the garden! I need a hobby.
My husband built this for me, because he's awesome!



So tomorrow I need to get busy and plant everything!!

I'm embarrassed to admit I've only gotten rid of 6 bags in 13 days, so today and tomorrow I am going through my house like a tornado! In my defense last week was so busy! INSANE is more like it. My husband had finals every night so He wasn't home very much and I had quite a bit going on as well. We were both exhausted at the end of the week! So, I am re-focused and preparing to fill a ton of bags this week!

I got this idea from another blog. If anyone else is doing this, here is a link to some tips!


http://memoriesoncloverlane.blogspot.com/2011/03/40-days-tips-and-tricks-basics.html

Pottery Barn

I'm falling in love with pottery barn. I think I've spent too much time browsing their website.

My house is falling apart

Ok, not really, it is being somewhat taken apart, and put back together. We have been in the house almost a year now! I can't believe it. Time sure does fly when you are having fun! So, we had our 10 month walk through which is when they go through and see little things here and there that need to be fixed. They do it at 10 months because it has been through all 4 seasons for the first time and shifted a little. (Most people call it "settling") So today is the day they are fixing everything.
Most of it is small touch ups. I had a small part of my island that got some water damage because it wasn't sealed correctly. So the counter top guy is installing a whole new one.
Kind of crazy entertaining 3 kids while random guys are walking in and out of my house. But, my kids have been SO good today. And the weather is fabulous so they have been playing outside a lot!
So, my sink is in my garage and the plumber may not be able to put it back until tomorrow. Oh well, we have other ones!

I walked in the living room after being away for a moment and saw this:



One of the cutest things ever. Jonathan was reading a book to Katelyn and Jacob!They were all three looking at the book! Katelyn looked up as soon as She saw the camera of course! I love my kids!

40 bags in 40 days

So, I've been trying to simplify things around here. And I have come to the conclusion that if I have less STUFF, the easier my life would be, because it would be easier to keep my house clean. So, I saw on another blog a woman was getting rid of clutter and got rid of 40 bags in 40 days. I am going to do that. I know what you are thinking, my house must be packed with junk. Well, its not. It did sound like a lot to me at first. But then I realized my garage would probably be like half of that! And when you think about clothes, toys, stuffed animals, it is doable. And my house will be much more neat and tidy. So, here I go. Wish me luck. At the end of this (April 4th!) I will have a lot less clutter, and my garage will be totally clean and I will be able to park in it!! And so I am starting with my master bedroom closet! yikes!

My Valentine

I love my valentine! I got to see him for about 3 minutes today! That is about 3 minutes more than I thought I would. He is hot. I love him so much. I can't believe I am so blessed to be his wife!



This was taken in January of 2008 at his OCS formal! I love you babe!

6 months old!

I can't believe my baby is 6 months old already. Time sure flies by! She is getting so big! Sleeping through most nights, rolling over, grabing everything she can reach, and getting up on her hands and knees! She also woke up with a tooth poking through yesterday(ouch) I literally checked the day before and felt nothing, now there is a little white tooth. And she really hasn't even complained that much. What a rockstar!
She is a doll and I love having a little girl! The boys love to help out and take care of her!
I know I have a ton more to blog about, we just got back from a two week trip to Texas. It was awesome! Very relaxing, which is exactly what I needed. So I will post pictures about that soon!

I can't believe 2011 is here. Time sure flies by. We had a great Christmas! I was so bummed because we weren't able to go to Texas. Joe couldn't get off of work. So we kicked it here in "the lake". But, we all got sick, so maybe it was better that we were able to be sick at home. The boys had strep throat, Katelyn had ear infections and a bronchial infection. And Joe and I had something, but I was so sick of taking people to the doctor, I didn't go for myself. But we are all over it, and doing well. We had a mellow Christmas with our little family.

Here is Jacob checking out his loot!




Poor Jonathan didn't even want to finish opening presents, he was running a fever.


And here is Katelyn in her Christmas shirt!



Here is everyone sitting down for our Christmas feast!




We were at the ER Christmas eve, Christmas day, and then at the doctor 3 times the following week. But Everyone is fine now! Thankfully!

The next day we woke up to this!



It was awesome! But since the boys were sick they only played outside for a few minutes. And when I say played, I mean stood and looked around!
I'll post more later. I've got grumpy kids that need dinner, baths and bedtime!!