never trust a groundhog

Today I painted the last of the touch ups on the fireplace area so we are all back to normal. It was a bit of work to get all the fire damage fixed up and I am happy to have it done. A big thanks to Dax's Dad who drove all the way up to help us. Here are pics of before, during, and after the repairs..

Hunter was a darling student of the week in his class last week and also sang in his 1st grade program entitled "We Love Winter".

I can only love winter son long because as I type it is currently -10 degrees outside. When you live in this town, winter is generally not a pleasant time to go out sledding or playing in the snow. It is spent trapped inside your house with nothing to do so you make cookies too much. And I don't care how good your house is insulated (mine happens to be quite so), nothing can keep -10 out completely. This is why the woodburning stove is crucial. For the couple of weeks it was out of commission, our gas bill went up $40 from the previous month.

Nothing quite warms my heart quite as much as my sweet little baby. I got her 6 month picture taken and also got Mack's done too. He was one the last time I got a profossional shot of him.

I hang out with these two a lot and I sure do love them.

Mack is still on his diet of cookies, candy, and syrup. What an inspiration!

Dax has been working hard and was recently workin' it with mohawk for a few days. He shaved it off because he had to teach a lesson in church and wanted to be taken seriously. I think it would have been a great attention getter/keeper.

yay yay february!

Yay for this month. It is just fun. Much better than January. Closer to spring, lovey dovey heart days, and end it off with my birthday. I'm gonna be THIRTY!

30!

Today I thought would be a good day to take down my Christmas cards that have been taped to my railing for all this time. I have loved seeing them everyday and remembering that we have friends and family that love us.

fire!

If we had to have a house fire, this was the one to have. As my neighbor was helping me carry my sleeping kids across the street to her house, she asked me what else she wanted me to grab. The only thing of value I could think of were people we had in our arms.

You couldn't ask for more excitement in our quiet neighborhood. 3 fire engines, 2 police cars, and an ambulance (which no one needed, thank heavens). More and more neighbors gathered to find out what was going on and if we needed help. I am grateful that there wasn't much they could do.

A fire started inside our wall from an ineffective seal in the chimney pipe. We happen to live across the street from 2 city firefighters who we called to come take a look and they called in the rest of the team. A hole was punched into the wall from the garage side and they sprayed water into it to put out the fire. Some beams and studs need to be replaced, some sheetrock, paint, carpet pad and trim and we're back in business. Easier said than done, but all my valuables are safe and sound.

We stayed the night at our neighbors which my kids thought was so cool. Except Hunter, who pretty much slept through the whole thing. He woke up around 2am and said, "Where am I?" We came back home this morning to a mess and we are not sure where to start.

But...really we are so blessed and I know we were/are watched over and protected.

parenting and projects

Dax made some delicious baked beans for dinner last night. Hunter refused to eat them and trying to help him out, I told him for every bite he ate I'd eat one out of his bowl too. He didn't think that was a good enough deal so we said eat them or go to bed. He went to bed at 6:30pm. This morning when he came to the kitchen for breakfast I heated up his bowl of beans and put them in front of him.

He ate them.

He is my most stubborn kid but he is very obedient, kind and so helpful with Quinn. We call him Quinn's brother-mother. He can't stand to hear her cry and is the first to offer to hold her when I need both hands. I love my Hunter boy. A week or two before Christmas, I was going through his backpack and pulled out his wallet. I asked him why he brought his wallet to school thinking he probably wanted to buy pencils from the office.

He said, "A lady was collecting money for an orphanage in Mexico so I emptied my wallet into the jar."

"Wow, bud. That was a really nice thing for you to do. How much money did you have?"

"I don't know. But I wasn't really saving for anything so I thought I should give my money to people who need it."

I am learning so much from being around my kids lately. Every kid has their strengths that make your heart jump out of your chest, weaknesses that drive you insane, and quirks that make you laugh. They are so different. I can't think of two kids that are more opposite than Preslie and Hunter. But both are good.

I have been thinking about my pre-baby and post-baby projects and man I did a lot of projects before Quinn was born! I don't have nearly the time or amount of hands I did 5 months ago but I saw this embellished tee on the craft blog Make It and Love It and wanted to give it a try. I embellished a plain v-neck with flowers cut from my stash of old t-shirts. My first embellished tee!

best lady

Today my Mom is 60.

I love my Mother so much. She is so wonderful and and good right down to her core. She is wacky and fun and creative and such a hard worker and the best grandma ever invented. My sister Tisha wrote this about my Mom on her blog:

"She doesn't know how accomplished and beautiful she is, but everyone who has ever had the opportunity to work along side her realizes that this lady can organize and do the work of 10 capable people, a team of oxen, a work horse, and an army of worker bees! Even though she battles Multiple Sclerosis and Neuropathy and is not capable of the billions of projects she used to accomplish, all the while raising 8 children, she still has projects, projects, projects. She crochets hair flowers, slippers, baby shoes for her grandchildren. She does genealogy and attends the temple with Dad, even though it is so hard for her. But wait, my mom just doesn't do genealogy like the normal person. OH NO! Even her RIN numbers for 30,000 people are organized! She still holds her own household down in the most organized way anyone could ever do (especially for all the boys she lives with). Mom sews barbie clothes, doll clothes, dresses, and many other things for her grand children. I could go on and on, but the most interesting thing that Mom does is that she is the rock that holds us all together. When all of her children call home to talk and share their good times and bad times, she is always there."

She is always there. In my almost 30 years of existence, I can only remember one or two times that I've called my old home phone number and my Mom didn't pick up. I don't think I'll realize how much of a comfort it has been in my life to always be able to reach her until that is not the case anymore. My parents are getting older and I know they won't be around forever, but I cannot picture my life without my Mom. I love her so much and I am honored to be her daughter.

the reveal

ta da!

CUTE, huh!

We had a great Sunday. New year, new time (9am), and new primary classes for the kids. Oh and new church clothes from Grandma and Grandpa W. Love that Christmas tradition; thank you Mom and Dad!

Mack looked so cute and small sitting on the front row in primary. And he only came over and pounded on the piano one time.

After church, Dax made calzones for lunch. Super YUM. I can't think of many other husbands/dads that make delicious Sunday meals for their fam. Thank you, sweetheart.

I love a brand new year; it gives me motivation to make positive changes in my life. A few things I plan to do are:

1. plan (and shop for) meals a week in advance
2. spend less money on little things and save for big things
3. do a vacation with my sisters this year
4. do a vacation with my MIL and sis-in-law Abbey this year
5. express more gratitude to people verbally and in writing

Happy New Year!

New Year, new 'do

January 1st. Spent today putting away Christmas decorations, cleaning house, and facing my sad checkbook. I did one exciting thing today that I said I'd never do. I cut Mack's hair! I know, so sad! But, it was time. He starts sunbeams tomorrow and his hair is just out-of-control wild and so long. Yes, sadly, it was time for a big boy haircut. Remember those long blond curly locks? Here are some before pics...

The after pics are coming soon! (He looks REALLY different and really adorable!)