Finisher

Yep, that's me...a FINISHER. No, not a finisher of cleaning my house, or piles of laundry, or projects that I have started and not finished. But I am a finisher of a half-marathon. That's right folks, I accomplished my goal and I did it well (in my opinion). I finished the 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 6 minutes...4 minutes faster than I wanted. I never thought that I would be able to do this, but thanks to some great friends and months of training (337 miles to be exact)...I DID IT!!!  Sorry, I have now become a bragger as well...but it's my blog and it's my moment of glory. But I will spare you kind readers and finish something else...this post :)

First Day of School Jitters

Summer has officially come to an end and the kids headed off to school today. I don't know who was more excited, them or me...probably me :)
Kaylee was really nervous. Last night she said, "Mom, I don't think I can eat a muffin in the morning because my stomach is too full of butterflies". Then at 11:30pm she proudly woke me up fully dressed and ready for school. She didn't want to be late so she decided to get ready early....7 HOURS EARLY.

So they headed out the door this morning and then they were back in what seemed like a blink of an eye. Where did my day go? Where did my much anticipated "break" go? I don't know...but I do know that they both had a fantastic first day...despite the jitters.

Walking on Sacred Ground

"The Mormon Pioneer Trail is "a trail of tragedy, a trail of faith, a trail of devotion, a trail of consecration, even the consecration of life itself..." We stand here (Martin's Cove) with bare heads and grateful hearts for their sacrifices, and the sacrifices of all who were with them along this tragic trail...May this site be visited by generations yet to come, who, like we, may bow their heads in reverent remembrance of our forebears who paid so costly a price for the faith which they carried in their hearts." - President Gordon B. Hinckley

"It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future. It is good to look upon the virtues of those who have gone before to gain strength for whatever lies ahead. It is good to reflect upon the work of those who labored so hard and gained so little in this world., but out of whose dreams and early plans so well nurtured has come a great harvest of which we are the beneficiaries. Their tremendous example can become a compelling motivation for each of us, for each of us is a pioneer in his own life, often in his own family, and many of us pioneer daily in seeking to do God's will and lift and serve those around us." - President Gordon B. Hinckley

Eric and I recently had the awesome opportunity to walk on that sacred Mormon Pioneer Trail. We were photographers for our Stake's Youth Pioneer Trek at Martin's Cove, The Sweetwater River, and Rocky Ridge. It was a special four days of looking to the past and gaining appreciation for my Savior, my family, my ancestors, the youth, and all that I am blessed with today. It was an honor to walk where my ancestors walked who paid so costly a price for me. I am a beneficiary of their tremendous examples and faith and I will always carry this experience in my heart!

Football Ice Cream

This activity was so fun. It was a huge hit when we had a little cousin party. I will definitely be doing this one again! It is a fun, sporty way to make homemade ice cream. It is great because just when you are tired from the football part, you have a nice cold, and delicious treat to eat :)

Football Ice cream:

Supplies/Ingredients needed: (One of these makes enough for 2 large servings)

• Quart size Ziploc bag
• Gallon size Ziploc bag
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 cup half & half
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• optional - fruit, chocolate syrup, cookies, etc.
• ice
• 1/4 cup rock salt

 Here's How:

• Pour whip cream, half & half, sugar, vanilla, and optional add ins into the quart size bag. Seal, making sure to get all the air out of the bag.

•  Place that bag into the gallon size bag. Put ice and rock salt into the larger bag and around the smaller bag. Seal, making sure to get all the air out of the bag.

•  Wrap the bag tightly in 6 layers of newspaper and secure with tape, making a tight newspaper ball.

•   Throw back and forth or shake for 20 minutes. Try not to drop it or the bags might break open. A little water leakage towards the end is normal...just keep going.

•  Unwrap the bags. When opening, be careful not to get the salt inside the ice cream bag. I wiped the bag off with a damp cloth before opening it. The ice cream turned out a lot better than I thought it would. It was just downright delicious!

Have fun and enjoy!

Treasure the Moments that Fill a Mom's Life

This last week of summer is crazy and hectic...trying to get the last bit of summer fun in while preparing for school. Amidst all of that I still have to keep up with the laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, and dinner. But throughout the craziness, there are little moments in my day that make it all worth it. Like today when Aaron swam for the first time and Kaylee floated independently on her back during swimming lessons and I was there to see their eyes light up with excitement. Or when Nathan and I sat down to read a book together and Travis played peek-a-boo with me. I sat down and read an article today that puts this into much better words...here is part of the article...Treasure the moments that fill a mom's life by Erin Stewart:

"Late night: Daddy gets home. Nicole excitedly tells him about her first swim ever in a big-kid pool. I am grateful that she's not telling me her swimming story.
I'm happy because I was actually there. Somewhere between the laundry and the peaches and the princess dress-ups, my daughter swam for the first time in her life. It was a few singular moments of a long day, but I was there, watching, clapping, encouraging from the edge of the pool. I was there to wrap her in a towel and kiss her cheek and tell her how proud I was.
And it didn't matter how I filled the rest of my day. The often monotonous and relentless nature of motherhood was worth it, if it meant I could be there for those precious poolside moments.
These are the moments that fill my life--and the days that define it."

My precious poolside moments today:

 

After, we shared the biggest and best snow-cones ever! I wouldn't mind reliving that moment!

I Know When I am Baptized...

Aaron had a very special day yesterday...he was baptized and became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and received the Holy Ghost. He promised Heavenly Father that he will keep his commandments, always remember him, and be an example of Christ. It was so neat to see him so happy to make these special promises and I hope that he will remember to keep them the best that he can!

2 Nephi 31:10 - And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?

 11 - And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.

 17 - Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

 18 - And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.

"I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain.

And ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.

I want to be the best I can and live with God again.

I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away,

And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.

I want to be the best I can and live with God again."

 - Children's Songbook

Baby Steps

Travis has finally started to walk...a little. He will take about 8 steps before he gets nervous and sits down. He is so cute as he toddles from person to person. He is so proud of himself for his accomplishment. He seems so grown up. The baby stage is slipping away from us one baby step at a time.

Confessions of a Frugal Mom

I am a frugal mom and here is the evidence:

Exhibit A: My child wears a diaper to bed and wakes up dry. The frugal mom does not throw the diaper away...oh no...she reuses it the next night, and the night after that...even for 3-4 nights in a row if we are lucky enough to not have any accidents during the night.

Exhibit B: My child poops in his diaper. The poop can be easily shaken out of the diaper and into the toilet, leaving the diaper practically like new. The frugal mom does just that and then puts the diaper back on the child instead of throwing it away.

Exhibit C: My child insists on taking off his own diaper. In the process he rips off one of the tabs. The frugal mom does not throw the clean, yet disfigured diaper away...oh no...she pulls out her handy dandy duct tape to keep the diaper in place as she puts it back on.
Are you a frugal mom? If not...buying diapers for 9 years will sure turn you into one!

Yep, no ifs, ands or butts:

I'm a frugal mom!