Happy 10th Anniversary!

Eleven years ago, if you asked me what I thought my life would be like...this is NOT what I would have pictured. Eleven years ago I was on a very different road...a road that I didn't necessarily want to be on but one I didn't know how to get off of. But my Heavenly Father was very aware of me and of my situation. He literally threw a boy in front of me that would not take "no!" for an answer. A boy that was so different then I could have ever imagined being with or even being interested in me. Several miracles later (and I don't mean coincidences...I mean miracles!) I married that boy and we are living happily ever after!

Reflections - Life Lessons on Building a Home

We should be FINISHED with the house tomorrow and will be ready to move in! So, I have been thinking a lot about this whole house building/buying process and here is what I think...

Things you should know before you build your own home...

1. It is really, really hard! Fortunately, it is a little like being pregnant...while you are doing it, you tell yourself you are never doing this again, but after you see the results you forget about the pain and start talking about when you are going to do it again. AND no one can possibly understand until they have done it themselves...but with that said continue to read to learn how to make it easier.

2. You should have a work truck...if not, be prepared to make your current vehicle into one. This includes getting it oily, muddy, dirty, eating in it A LOT, driving around constructions sites, hauling tools around, trying to pick up supplies that don't quite fit but if your kids squish to one side and duck maybe it will be possible...

3. Have a stock of tires available for the said "work truck"...preferably three. That seems to be the lucky number of flats you will experience. I actually visited The Tire Company so many times during this process they knew me by name and started giving me a discount on all of the things I needed...broken tale light, broken head light, three flat tires, three inspections.

4. Have jumper cables available for the said "work truck" especially if you are using it as a living room for the kids to watch TV, nap, eat and keep them entertained while you work on the house. The battery WILL run out.

5. Keep a spare car key at the new house under a rock so that when your kids are done watching TV and lock the keys in the car you don't have to try and find one.


6. Buy and USE lots and lots of sunscreen! Working in the sun again after you have blistered yourself is fairly painful!


7. If you don't own a shop vac - one of those vacuums that vacuums up everything from nails to water to glass to saw dust, etc. then GET ONE...A BIG ONE! In fact, if you are a homeowner at all you should own one. They are awesome! Chris has been wanting one for years (we had a little teeny one). It was finally time to give in and buy one.


8. If you don't already have an awesome family...adopt one...you will need it!

9. Dirt is a precious resource! Use it wisely!

10. We have heard from several people that building/buying a house can have a lot of strain on a marriage. Luckily, this was not the case for us but maybe that is because we were forewarned...so consider yourself forewarned!

11. Be prepared to be disappointed...a lot! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE our house and how it ended up but it seemed that every step of the road was paved with disappointments. These disappointments can come from lack of funds, time constraints, miscommunication, lack of funds OR sometimes the exact thing that you wanted and got still doesn't turn out exactly how you wanted it to; Oh, and did I mention that everything is EXPENSIVE! lol

12. AND lastly, enjoy it! Most of the time, I have to admit that Chris and I were too tired to really enjoy much of anything but there were times when we just sat back and realized what an awesome blessing it is to be able to not only own a home but be able to build one. Our children, even though they too, are tired of us building the house, understand how much time and work went into this house. We built it together and we will reap the benefits together...isn't that what family is all about.

Things I have learned while building a house

1. I CAN do hard things...not necessarily happily...but I survived them with few breakdowns.

2. I learned that I can cut and lay base and casing; cut, grout and lay tile; run a watering hose, use a table saw and a lay wood floor, CLEAN like a MANIAC, and according to Chris give a whole lot of moral support!

3. I learned how to check and put air in a tire.

4. I learned that I am a lot more materialistic then I would like to admit.

5. I learned that my husband is even more amazing than I thought...he never complained having to work 16 hr. days-6 days a week. He also dealt with my breakdowns so well. :)

6. I learned just how much a family can accomplish when they work together.

7. I learned that I am pretty indecisive especially when it comes to decorating.

8. Dirt is expensive!

9. I am capable of much more then I thought but still have much more to learn and even more importantly I am excited for it!

Rebellious Child?

So, this parenting thing is really starting to test me. Before your kids go to school, there are few people who really influence them...maybe you, your spouse and a couple of other relatives. Once your kids start school they are bombarded with all different kinds of belief systems, peer pressures, thoughts, ideas, etc. I actually believe, for the most part, that this is a good thing. I think we have to allow our children to "practice" making the choices that we see as productive and beneficial to their lives. This morning, I gave my son a chance to "practice" making a choice hoping he wouldn't feel good about it OR that it would pass quickly. I let Austin choose to wear a mohawk to school! So what is the big deal about a mohawk? I dunno...maybe I am just old but in my day that represented a form of rebellion. Does it any more? I am not sure but I figured either way it is just a hair-do. What is the worst the can happen right?

Well, I will tell you the worst that can happen....I picked him up from school and the following conversation pursued:

Mom: So how was school?

Austin: Good (his usual response)

Mom: So did anything fun happen? (my usual pursuance)

Austin: my friend Rian (a GIRL friend) came up and kissed me on the cheek! (a big smile across his face)

Mom: She did?

Austin: yep

Mom: Did you tell her there was no kissing in elementary school?

Austin: no...I liked it!

PAUSE.....

Austin: she liked my Mohawk!

UUgh...I knew it! Why couldn't I just be a dictator and tell him there was no way he was wearing a mohawk to school! Luckily this morning, we "didn't have time" to do his hair because I kept putting it off because I was trying to figure out how to deal with this issue. He didn't seem to have a problem with that so he went to school with messy hair and I think I might "not have time" to do his hair every morning!

Oreo Peanut Butter Delight!

So one night Chris and I were in a Munchy Mood and all we had were Oreos. To most people that would be enough but it wasn't for us. So we decided to spice them up a little. We spread a healthy layer of PB on top (less if you are not a huge PB fan...although Chris isn't and he still loved them) and then we melted some chocolate and spooned it over the top. If you want to make them look pretty you can dip them but we were in a hurry. Then pop them in the freezer for 20 min. (we almost couldn't wait but your patience will be rewarded...they are better frozen)! ENJOY! If you try it out...let us know what you think.

ATTN: Twilight Fans

For any of you out there that are Twilight fans and were waiting for Edwards version of Twilight - Midnight Sun, it is no longer going to be released, as of now. I actually wasn't that excited about it anyway because I already read Twilight and knew the outcome...how could it be that much better from Edwards point of view? OH, it is! :) I started to read the first few pages of her manuscript and it sucked me in pretty quick. Hopefully she changes her mind and decides to release it. Read here to find out what happened...

http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/midnightsun.html

House Update!

My sister has been wanting updated pics of the house...so here ya go sis!
It is almost done! The outside is completely finished except for the final grading. The painting will be finished this week. Chris is tiling the bathroom now and will be installing our floors the end of this week. Countertops, plumbing and lighting will also be installed by the end of the week. Carpet is being installed the beginning of next week. AND then it should be ready to move in! WOOHOO!




Our linoleum in the laundry room and guest bathroom.

Back door with bench for shoes underneath and coats/backpacks above.


We started packing our first boxes from our rental and when the kids saw what we were doing they started jumping up and down and running through the house...I thought Austin might start crying he was so happy. They are so happy to finally get to have their dad back!

Ashton's Coming Home!

Ashton is doing amazing! Here he is running around like a 4-year old should be. He will still continue his therapy once he gets home but he WILL be coming home sometime this week. They are so excited...especially to be reunited with their daughter. She has been staying with family to attend school in Southern Utah. We are so grateful again for all the prayers said on his behalf. We truly believe in the power of prayer and that his miraculous quick recovery was because of them.