Sydnie, the big helper!

Surprisingly Sydnie wanted to help me vacuum! I say that with such enthusiasm because up until this day she was terrified of the vacuum cleaner, it may or may not have something to do with the fact that I always chase her onto the couch when I turn it on...LOL Anywho, we had fun vacuuming, now I need to get her to wipe her own toosh!

A couple of weeks ago, when we thought spring had sprung, we ventured to the park for the afternoon. Jasie had SO much fun, this was her first time and she probably went down the slide 50 times in a half an hour. She was so cute, as you can see! The girls are growing so fast I am already wishing time to slow down so I can enjoy every single moment with them. Here's to Spring returning soon...

Ok so I am totally hooked on coupons now...I can't believe how much I can save just by getting the paper and clipping coupons. I always thought "what a waste of time" or I really won't save enough for it to be worth my time. Well I was obviously naive! The pictures above will demonstrate the amount you can save, and how quickly you can build food storage.
8 boxes of frosted flakes
2 boxes of frosted mini wheats
4 -5 packs of fiber one bars
5 -3 packs of irish spring soap
5 packages of angel hair pasta
10- 8 packs of rice crispie treats
5 colgate expressions toothpaste
4 packs of wrigleys gum
5 -4 packs of dannon yogurt smoothies
4 aerosol cans of lysol disinfectant spray
2 tubes of neosporin
4 -45 count dixie plates
1 -25 count dixie bowls
5 bags of quaker rice cake snacks
RETAIL TOTAL = $210
AMOUNT SPENT = $76.71
AMOUNT SAVED = $133.29 WOW!!!

The next shopping spree was smaller but still amazing!
5 boxes of 26 count electrasol dishwasher tabs
2 -75 oz. bottles of electrasol dishwasher liquid
3 tubes of neopsporin
3 -35 count lysol disinfecting wipes
2 aerosol cans of glade air freshener (free by the way)
2 -2 packs of hot hot pockets
1 red baron pizza
RETAIL TOTAL = $87
AMOUNT SPENT = $11.50
AMOUNT SAVED = $75...WOW!!!
Maybe you think I'm crazy but this actually works and all you have to do is buy the Sunday newspaper and clip the coupons. Its worth a try for anyone, especially during the economy crisis!

8th anniversary celebration

Happy anniversary to us...March 15th. We celebrated by taking the kids for sleepovers with grandparents and aunt Whitney. Then we made our way to Ruby Tuesday where our server was the most amazing...Debi Hawkes, LOL we had so much fun and she took these pictures for us. Then to Sees candies for my fav treat...butterscotch squares. After that we headed to Wiseguys comedy club where we had a good laugh. And ended up at home alone, which was really weird I kept wanting to check the kids but nope they weren't there. It was a great night, one we will remember for a long time. It's great to date! LOL

Usborne Books

We found this amazing book company! We are consultants and would love you to look at our website. Fantastic kids books and learning tools. Check it out here...

Interesting facts

In my new ward I was asked by the relief society to fill out an information sheet and return it. When I got to the question asking to tell something interesting about myself I couldn't think of anything good so I e-mailed Jason because he was at work and this was his response.

Yes
you gave birth to a child naturally and actually want to do it again
you have a huge family
you swallowed a fruit snack whole and survived to tell about it
you have an amazing ear for playing music without knowing how to officially read music
you know how to use American sign language
you were a mommy to over 40 rowdy college boys before the age of 26
you can almost do your splits perfectly
you have the most painful donkey kick in the world
you can automatically throw something and have it land in my eye whether i am wearing a helmet or securely hidden in a body bag

there are millions of things but i have to go now i will send you more later!!!! I love you profusely!

that is my word of the day PROFUSELY
HE CRACKS ME UP, AND THIS MADE ME FEEL LIKE I HAD SOMETHING INTERESTING TO SHARE. PS the only one I shared was the rowdy college dorm mom.

Life.

As I watch myself and others struggle in this life, my heart breaks for all the disappointment and heartache that we endure. I know it's rare for me to share spiritual experiences but now is a time in my life when I am reflecting on the importance of this earthly life and those I choose to take with me on my journey here. I have always tried to be a helping hand to those around me (bluntness and all) :) But I find myself looking back and realizing that I was doing those things because that is what I needed. Instead of seeing what the recipient was in need of. I have found recently that holding on to acquaintances, whom I thought of as friends has led me down some paths I wouldn't have chosen for myself if I could have seen the hindsight. So I have come to a point where I must make some decisions for myself, which in my mind I have not done often, although it may have looked that way at times. I must let go of the negative influences in my life, choose not to let them effect my choices and my spirituality, some are family and some friends. I know this sounds like a depressing reality, however this is very cleansing for me to write and share with those I love and respect. If you are reading this then have no worries you're not on the "bye-bye" list. ;)
I had the opportunity to attend a temple session at the Mount Timpanogis temple with my hubby last week, first session since before Jasie was born, I know I was naughty...bad me. The next day I was able to attend the Draper temple open house which was SO amazing! The spirit there was so strong that in the sealing room as I was trying to talk to Chelsie a little about my sealing to Jason I couldn't help the tears from flowing. It was so great to have her there and see her experience the temple for the first time. It was a glimpse of what will come in the future for my beautiful daughters. I have so much love in my heart for all of you, the gospel and of course my eternal family. Since the new year I have been studying the Book of Mormon. I have never read and understood the words so clear before, I am amazed what I can learn and how just adding personal scripture study to my life has changed my perspective on my family and there receptiveness to me. Learning of the creation from the temple and then learning it again in the scriptures has given me an "a-ha" moment this week. 2 Nephi 2:25 "Adam fell that man might be; and men are, that they might have joy." To me this always meant that I should have joy because that's what it meant, but I have discovered that we cannot have joy without the fall of Adam because there would be no knowledge of this joy if there were no misery. So we must pass through sorrow to know repentance, and we must have our hearts broken to find mercy, and we must suffer some misery to understand real joy. I have experienced all of these as have you all I'm sure, however he never said it would be easy just that it would be worth it. I can't wait to see you all in all your glory that you have earned, there we see each other as we really are.
Love to all!

I had to.

This is Jason, very excited for his German chocolate cherry cake...It was too funny not to blog. Sorry Babe-a

Thats what I call flexible.

So this is the a fore mentioned "bear bear" that Jasie got for Christmas. She cannot sleep without it, as you can see whether its sitting up laying down or folded in half as you see here. I love these little things the girls do to bring bits of joy to my life.

FINALLY...I KNOW!!!

This is our amazing house! We are loving it to the MAX! 4 bedrooms 2 baths fully FANTASTIC! I have only 10 boxes left and we will be unpacked...then onto the "decor" which I will be asking for help with so be thinking of great ideas. ;) If you want our new address send me an e-mail and I will be glad to send it. LOVE TO ALL! PS. can you believe all the snow in our front yard? WHAT THE? It's cold...brrr.

Uncle Joey

My brother Joey, his wife Ashley, & my nephew Jordan came from Texas for a visit! We had so much fun! He has so much energy the kids love it. This is him lifting Chelsie and my niece Kaydence up and down, and as you can see they LOVE it! We were the lucky ones since me and Joey share the two sets of parents we got to see them the most!

Yes we still exist!

I have been really slackin on the blog values, I KNOW! We have been moving to our new HOUSE! YEAH! We are buying a house! It's in good ol Lehi Utah. Four bedrooms 1/3 acre landscaped, including fenced yard. We are all so excited we can hardly stand it! We have been moving slowly over the past month and hope to have renters take over our old lease so we can get gone. I will post pictures very soon, from my new office... did I say YEAH?! I love you all, keep in touch.

Santa Clause is coming to town!

Chelsie is in the choir this year at Lehi Elementary so we have been going to different events for her to perform. We found Santa at the Legacy center performance. It was so cute, we enjoyed cookies and milk with Santa's elf and got to have this cute picture with Santa himself.
The little cutie in the pink is our adopted daughter. Kasia is my good friend Melanie's 3rd little tyke. Melanie went on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera so we adopted Kasia while her mom is gone. We will be sad to send her home!

Hawkes girls.

I know I keep saying this but Jasie is growing SOO fast I can't believe shes a year old on the 8th! She is so fun and she has started throwing tantrums, giving kisses, saying "wasat" (whats that) she signs for milk and eat and more...o shes so smart. Chelsie is doing amazing in 2nd grade, she is at the top of her class and ahead of the class with reading. Sydnie is finally potty trained, with exception of night time, but that will come. She repeats everything we say to her and she can sing every song I could ever think of.

I love the holidays!!!

We had a GREAT Thanksgiving! We spent the day with Jason's Dad and step-mom and his Nana and Gramps, and his sisters and niece and nephew. Of course we ate WAY to much! Afterward we went to my Dad and step-mom's and had some of their pie...LOL we really love food!

The next day I went Black Friday shopping and finished up Christmas and birthday shopping...YEAH!
And last but not least we put up our Christmas tree, and decor. Sydnie wanted to help so badly that she went and got her little tykes chair and set it next to mine so she could reach to...She is soo fun!

Jasie was so not happy that I was taking a picture instead of rescuing her, but it was such a Kodak moment. She has become so curious, she can't take a nap until shes done exploring her bed for a while, she has started to stand up and walk around the edges of everything. Her personality is so fitting to the rest of our family, and I am a little worried that Sydnie has just been training us for Jasie...AAA! She is a TON of fun though and she is so happy and smiley all the time. Don't you just want to squeeze her?

Cheslie and Sydnie have started to bond as sisters recently. It used to be more of Chelsie pestering Sydnie to get a reaction. Lately it has been more lets play a game or Sydnie's fav. lets do our homework, she'll get Chelsie's backpack and get everything out. This picture is one of those precious moments.

TAG...YOU'RE IT!

I am: Having a really good day!
I think: I do?
I know: That My Redeemer Lives...
I want: something good to eat.
I dislike: loud neighbors
I miss: Terris Jean Kirkham
I fear:losing Jason
I feel: pretty, oh so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and wise...
I hear: Chelsie straightening the bed
I smell: Sydnie's sweat from her nap, shes on my lap (I know I know I'm a poet & didn't know it)
I crave: yummy food...MMMM
I cry: over spilled perfume
I usually: hide my true feelings
I search: ponder and pray
I wonder: why each little bird has a someone
I regret: lets just say I have a few...OK
I love: everyone
I care: about good manners
I always: tell the truth
I worry: A LOT!
I am not: famous
I remember: Grandma Pete...I miss her too
I believe: I can fly (clearly I want to sing right)
I dance: with my girls to kid songs
I sing: really well when I'm alone
I don't always: do whats right
I argue: over guest parking at my rental
I write: to do lists
I win: Tetris
I lose: control sometimes
I wish: I had a house
I listen: when I want to
I don't understand: why
I can usually be found: at home
I am scared: of offending others
I need: time, it's my love language
I forget: a lot more now that I have three little beauties to take care of
I am happy: to have an eternal family
I tag: EVERYONE WHO READS...LOL

So last week we had family pictures done, and it was so fun! The photographers were so sweet, and very willing to work with the kids. We went to willow park and when we got there it was raining, I prayed for a break because I didn't want to have to try again another day and it let up for the rest of the evening. We stomped like yeti's to keep Sydnie entertained, and and we did a few kissing shots to keep Jason entertained. I love my family! LOL If you need pictures done, hear is the website for the fantastic photographer www.winsorphotography.com