The sweetest boy

On Saturday we went to an Elder's Quorum party. The theme for the night was a chili cook off. About an hour before we left, I was taste testing my chili and Caleb said, "Mom, I think you'll win first place or at least second place." I said, "Do you really think so?" He said, "Well, at least at our house you're always first place." Oh, my heart. I started tearing up and gave him the biggest hug until he begged to be released. It's days like these, I know I made the right decision to become a mother.

Car-less for a week, UGH!

I finally took my car to the body shop to have my door fixed this week, so I am car-less. In December, a teenage boy hit my car door as I was getting out of the car in a parking lot. His insurance finally came back, after a lengthy investigation, and determined that "there wasn't enough evidence to determine that my door was open well before their client pulled into the spot next to me." There weren't any witnesses other than him and his friends and me, so it was basically my word against his. Oh well, my insurance is now doing their own investigation, so maybe I'll at least get my deductible back if they can prove he was liable. I am so sick of the whole thing. For the past 3 1/2 months I have been driving around with the inside corner of my door flattened to the outside. I am so excited to get it back, good as new on Friday. This is my first car "accident" if you can call it that. It has been a real learning experience. It was hard to swallow that my "word" wasn't good enough. I didn't have any eyewitnesses, other than my 11 year old daughter who was with me, who they wouldn't take a statement from. I have decided that being an insurance claims rep would be a sucky job. Every time I talked to them, it sounded like they believed me and sided with me, but in the end, belief isn't enough. You need proof. It is sad that the world has become so "proof" based, instead of "belief" based. I am going to hold on to my belief with all I've got! The world would be a better place if everyone did.
Anyway, I have been home bound since Monday, and I am really tired of being here!! To top things off, it has been raining and snowing. I can't even walk somewhere! Well, technically I could, I am just not willing to. LOL! I have been completing a lot of projects around the house though. I made new curtains for the bathroom and the boys room, I fixed a broken desk drawer, cleaned out the boys' closet and toy boxes, baked cookies, hung pictures, did laundry. HELP-I AM SO BORED!!!! I don't know if I can do this two more days. I even missed book club this morning because it was snowing and I couldn't find a ride. I am in serious need of some retail therapy! Well, at least I have time to post, even if it is only about having nothing to do.

Happy Anniversary

This weekend we are celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary. I am so grateful for my sweet husband. He has to put up with so much from me. I like to think that I am just keeping him young with all of my spontaneity. He has been supportive of the majority of my outlandish schemes over the years. I have found that if I can make it worth his while, (i.e. if we go to Phoenix for spring break so that I can be warm laying by a pool, you can go golfing) he is really supportive! He is SO patient. He had to be, just to get me to even go out with him to begin with. Who knew, that this is where we'd be 13 years later. Well, maybe my mom did! He is a wonderful companion and friend. He is an amazing father! Happy Anniversary Jim! I love you!!!

Gangrene????!!!!

Definition: Gangrene refers to the decay and death of tissue resulting from an interruption in blood flow to a certain area of your body
Christopher was playing around on an exercise bike, going really fast, then took his feet off the pedals and one nailed him in the back of his calf. Ouch!! It was just pink on Friday, but looked like this on Sunday.

He got out of the shower Sunday morning, sobbing hysterically. I got him to settle down enough to tell me that he didn't want to have his leg cut off. What?? He said, "I don't want them to cut my leg off !" I said, "Why is someone going to cut your leg off?" He said, "Because, I have gangrene!" LOLOLOLOLOL!!!! It was all I could do to choke back the laugh that was itching to burst out and assure him that a big green bruise was not the same thing as gangrene. LOLOLOLOL!!!! Obviously, he's seen one too many episodes of Little House on the Prairie or watched too much history channel. Seriously, it was so sad and yet so funny!

Jim's SO OLD!

How many candles do you think are on this cake??














Enough that I about singed my eyelashes off carrying it to the table!

We had a whirlwind weekend. Friday night we went to Olive Garden to celebrate a little early. Thanks Debbie and Chris for the gift card!! It is one of our favorite restaurants. Saturday morning dawned sunny and relatively warm. The next thing I knew, Jim and the kids were setting up the trampoline. We had a few minor problems setting it up since we had to completely dismantle it in the move. It wasn't a very quick project. Caleb said, "It will be worth it, even if I have to wait all day." This coming from our least patient child. It was so funny!
After we finally got it all put together it was time to hurry to our niece's birthday party. (Keep count, we had a lot of parties this weekend!) We all stayed to play for about an hour and then Jim and I left the kids there to play while we went and did a little b-day shopping. Jim got a pair of Nike cross trainers for everyday wear and a pair of basketball shoes. We picked up the kids just in time to hurry back to our house for a party. Jim was called to the High Council a few weeks ago, so he will be released as the Elder's Quorum President. We had his presidency and their families over as a little "thanks for the memories"/Birthday party. We ordered a bunch of take out from Royal India. It was so fun! Good food and great company!! Thank goodness the tramp was set up for all of the kids to enjoy while the parents talked.
Sunday was an insanely busy day! So much for enjoying a relaxing Sunday. Jim had a meeting from 7:30 am-10:00 am. He came home briefly to eat and the kids surprised him with this banner they had been working on all morning.

They taped clear cellophane to the wall and then used stickers and dry erase markers to decorate it. So creative! They came up with the idea all on their own.

Jim was off to another meeting from 10:30-12:00. I had a Sunday School Training meeting from 11:00-12:00 and then went to choir practice from 12-12:30. I rushed home to get everyone to church at 1:00 and then back home at 4:00 to cook for another party at 5:00. My sister Michelle and her sweet family are LEAVING ME to move to Texas on Wednesday. We all got together for a "going away" party/ Jim's real birthday party. LOL! I love that birthdays last for days around here. It was so fun to be together with my parents, grandma, siblings, and their families. We ate and laughed and took lots of pictures. Again, it was so great that the weather was nice and the tramp was set up. The kids jumped and jumped and jumped. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some little ones with really sore muscles today.

At the end of the weekend, this is how my birthday boy looked-

That's exactly how I felt!! It was the best of times, it was the most exhausting of times!!

Christopher's 10!

Wow, time really flies! Christopher turned 10 this week. It was fun having a family party Thursday night. We went to dinner at Iggy's then came home and watched City of Ember together. Friday, baby cousin Jacob and I took Christopher Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch at school. Saturday, Christopher invited three friends to go out to lunch at Wingers, then they came back here and played. Lots of fun! I am so bummed that I forgot my camera when we went to Wingers. It was so fun to see the boys laughing and eating. Here are a few pics from the party though:

The winners!

Paying it forward is fun! The winners from my post are: Bekah, Betsy and Becky!! I am working on a couple of fun projects that will be on the way to you soon. (Don't hold your breath though! lol)