Funky Funk

So, lately I have been in what I like to call a "Funky Funk."

I just feel really blah lately. Not depressed. Not sad. Not happy. Just BLAH!

I have tried to rack my brain as to what it could be, and than last night it hit me! I sat on the couch reading an article from the newest issue of 'LDS Living' Magazine. In this article a young woman, who had overcome many trials in life, found happiness in serving others, and by surrounding herself in the gospel & in her talents. 

LIGHT BULB moment!

I was blah lately because I haven't been surrounding myself in the gospel and in my talents!

We haven't been consistently doing Family home Evening, family prayers, or even family scripture study. I have just been going through the motions of getting up, cleaning house, running errands, cleaning some more, cooking, watching TV, and then going to bed. 

I go to church every Sunday, and do my visiting teaching every month. And Brandon and I even consistantly go to the temple. But where is my DAILY spiritual nourishment?? Where in there was I enriching my Spirit of even the Spirit of our children...DAILY?

What's even more sad is that as soon as school got out, I made Book Of Mormon reading charts for all three kids and I, and we committed to reading the entire Book Of Mormon before school would start again in August. Well...school starts in 4 weeks and we have read 7 chapters!! Apparently, I have a hard time sticking with things.

Since moving here to Arizona, I haven't worked out, scrap booked, and obviously I have BARELY blogged. I don't do hair anymore because there are like 10 million beauticians in my ward and in the surrounding wards, so they already have a huge clientele. I have been focusing so much on getting the kids settled, and in a routine, and helping Brandon to get adjusted, that I have forgotten about myself. Almost lost myself. (This isn't a pitty party, I just realized that I am not doing anything that I used to LOVE to do!)

Esentially,I feel like I haven't been nourishing me . And yet, I KNOW when I am Spiritually fed, and personally fed by nourishing my talents, I am a better wife and mother.

So, tomorrow is a new day.

Tomorrow I will work more on me.

Tomorrow I will fill my Spiritual cup.

Tomorrow I will nourish at least one of my talents.

Tomorrow I will serve someone.

Tomorrow I will smile more.

Noah Turns 11!

ONE YEAR Wedding Anniversary!

On June 25, 2011 I married not only my best friend, but the best man I have ever known!

Brandon and I's relationship happened so fast, but yet we knew from the very beginning that we were supposed to be together and that we were meant to find each other...on-line of all places!!! :)

I can 100% honestly say that the last year has been the easiest year of my adult life. With Brandon and I, it's just that easy. We love each other, we respect each other, and we put each other's needs before our own. I am a better person for knowing him, and a better mother since he came into my life!

I feel so eternally blessed that he came into my life (and the life of my children), because without I don't know where I (we) would be!

 February 2011, moments after we got engaged.

One year ago...coming out of the temple. I remember kneeling across the alter in the sealing room and tears just rolling down my cheeks. I kept thinking how lucky I was to have him for eternity, and I still do.

 Before Going to Dinner...30 weeks Pregnant.

Oh, and Brandon's eyes are of course closed...SHOCKER!!

Lily gets Baptized!

Coupon Mania

Back when I was single (and even in my previous marriage) I would only rarely use coupons. I shopped at cheaper stores, and looked for sales. But I never realized how much money I could be saving until I married Brandon and we started clipping coupons and really watching the ads! 

Being married to an accountant has many advantages, but one of them is that he is really good with a budget and will sticking to it. So, now have I. Of course there are those months where something unexpected comes up, or maybe I go over in a certain category, but overall, I am WAYYY better at money now than I ever have been!

The biggest money saver tip??

Don't pay retail for anything. Especially groceries. And in fact, I have gotten a little snobby about how much I will spend on certain items. For example, I will NOT spend more than $1 on a box of cereal! It's really ridiculous to spend more than that. You can get the boxes so cheap by clipping coupons, price matching, and waiting for the "good" deals to come around. Right now I have 70+ boxes in my food storage and none of the boxes did I pay more than a $1.

A few weeks ago when I went to the grocery to get more boxes. Brandon thought he would stack them up on our Island and carry them into our pantry for me. Well, about 2 seconds later he dropped all the boxes on our kitchen floor. The pictures turned out bad because of the lighting, but you get the point.

I guess it's the thought that counts. Just kidding! He was trying to be silly.

Our best money saver this month though was on Huggies diapers!! It's never too early to prepare, and with my due date about 8 weeks away, we figured that we might as well stock up now.

A box of Huggies diapers usually cost about $19.77 at Wal-mart. Well, we had a K-mart ad where they said they were selling their Huggies diapers for $5.99 a box!!! So we took the add to Wal-mart and had them price match it. This picture was taken after about 6 hours of diapers shopping on a Saturday afternoon. What's funny is that we have bought more since this picture, and we now have 39 boxes!!!

I love saving money!!

And now I have Brandon even more addicted...he was like a kid in a candy store every time we bought a box. Remember, he is an accountant, so if he knows he is saving money, he is one happy husband!!!

Puppy Love

Our sweet puppy, Carly, had become the center of our home. She rules this house and our hearts.

When we got her it was an impulsive buy. She was on the side of a busy rode, laying on a sheet, on some gravel, with two or her sisters. They were tiny!! The people selling her wanted $20, but Brandon and I only had $6 cash. We offered it to them, and they took it. We quickly hopped into our car and looked at our new purchase, and the newest member of our family, and then thought 'what have we just done?' Kind of. We actually wanted to get a dog for the kids, but I am a big dog person, and this certainly wasn't going to be a big dog.

We went straight to a pet store to get supplies, and while we were there we weighed her. She was only 1 lb. 4 oz.!!! She couldn't eat solids yet, so for the next week I fed her every 2-3 hours from a puppy bottle. I was smitten by this point. She was my baby.

The funnier part is that I guess she really got me baby hungry, because the week we got her was the week we conceived our baby. Only 2 1/2 weeks after getting Carly, we found out we were pregnant. Ironic really.

Now, 7 months later, we can't imagine our life without her, and I can't imagine having a bigger dog...she is the perfect size and she has the perfect personality for our family! She is so sweet and so loving, and yet she has some sass! Luckily I am due soon to have our baby, or I might just want another one. Puppies are so much fun!

Here are some recent pictures...

Brandon wearing Carly in his shirt...yes, his eyes are closed once again.

Carly learning to drink from my glass. She has only done it this once. The kids just wanted to see if her head would fit in my glass. (notice my feet are up in the background? This must have been right as I was starting to have some swelling)

And here are some from the first two weeks we had her...

  

How could you not just love that face????? Dang, she is cute!!

Kids Professional Pictures

Lily Turns 8!

Day Trip to Tucson

Lily's Dance Recital

We Bought a House!!

Easter