Happy Halloween!!!!

Trick or Treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!!! I cannot wait for tomorrow. We are going to a Halloween party tonight at the church, then tommorow we are getting the kids pictures done in their costumes and tommorow night it will be tricker treating with a Halloween Party afterwards! Kayge is going to be scooby doo, and miss london is going to be a horse. :) I can't wait to see them in their costumes! Hope everyone is going tricker or treating or doing something fun! Have a Happy Halloween! Stay tuned for lots and lots of picture of the kids in their costumes.

Loss

I don't understand how a life can be taken so suddenly and swiftly. Regardless if you know them personally, or just by a wave on the street it affects you. Brandon and his family have lost a dear friend and wonderful woman. They always say a smile and a positive attitude will go on forever. This is so true. She was positive, involved, and so happy. I don't know if we can ever accept death as something that just happens. A very dear friend put it into perspective for me when I was questioning why. She said "She was needed in heaven more then she was needed here." I needed to hear that. She always had a wave and smile for us. She always asked how our kids were doing and how we were doing. She was involved in church and the community. Always giving to those around her. My heart goes out to the family and her husband for their loss. One day everything in life will make perfect sense. I am thankful that I have the gospel in my heart to understand things a little better. I know she is smiling down on us today and wishing away all the sorrow. She is happy and she is helping to build the kingdom for the rest of us to join.

London LOVED her birthday cake. we had a huge turnout. Over 30 people! WOW!

Birthday Day Girl!

London, Brandon, and I went to Texas Roadhouse last night to celebrate London's Birthday. (Kayge was in Wyoming with his brothers) London loved the atmosphere. She was watching everyone around her. They all came and sang to her and she started crying when they said yee haw. I cut her a little piece of my steak into little pieces. She did not like that!!! ha ha she kept spitting it out all over the floor and would make the funniest face. It was nice for me and Brandon to get out too. We have been so busy lately with work and trying to keep up with our little ones that we haven't gone out for a while. After the texas roadhouse we went to pets mart to pick out some more fish for our fish tank. London loves the fish tank. She stands up against it and pats the glass. We got about ten more beautiful fish and our tank is really coming together. It has been a fun project for our whole family to do. The kids love seeing the little fish swimming around. We have been so blessed to have such a close family. It is amazing that Brandon and I met at Olive Garden and fell in love. I love the connection that we have. He always can make me laugh. Even when I get grumpy. Especially when I get grumpy. He will just smile and come tickle me or something. We have grown so close and I love him with all my heart. He is such a great dad. The kids absolutely adore him. Well this is about all for now. I will write some more later.... Every day is a new story.

Miss London is 1!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

You're getting big and growing tall. Last year you started out so small. Your Big blue eyes looking up at me saying "Mommy, Daddy, thanks for taking care of me." Patty cake, and Peak a Boo all the things you love to do. You're learning fast and crawling quick. You'll be walking soon I can hear the clock tick. You laugh and giggle and are always on the wiggle. You are my heart and my life, even when in great strife. You lift my soul and clear my mind, except when you have a stinky behind. Lundy Lou, Mommy and Daddy love you!

Happy Birthday sweetheart. You are our joy. We love being parents you have made it so easy.

Growing up

Miss London took about 4 steps by herself the other night! They were actually pretty steady too. My little girl is growing up too fast. She will be one on Ocotber 21st which is Wednesday. It is amazing to watch all the things she is learning. London has given up on baby food and only wants everything we are eating. She jabbers away all day long. Now that is kind of funny to listen to. You know that she makes sense to herself but of course we can never understand it. London loves her puppy Dez. London follows Dez around all day and talks to her. I am sad that my little london is growing so fast, but I am excited to see the person she will become. She is loved very very much by her Daddy, Mommy, and Brother. She has been such a blessing to our family. Whoever knew that so much personality and joy could come in such a little package. :) She is our little Angel. And everyone no she doesn't have any hair yet. :)

Glasses

So I picked up my glasses today. Ha Ha Ha. I look like a dork. I can't even post a picture! Brandon loves them. He says I look like a Sexy Librarian. They are the thick black rimmed type. I am still nervous about wearing them. But hey I CAN SEE!!! Driving to work was great. I kept lifting them up and down to see the freeway signs with and without them. I could see them before they were even with my car. :) I guess this is just another adjustment. Ha ha or this means I am getting old. So if anybody sees me with my glasses. Please don't laugh. :) I am going to try to rock these glasses! Hello sexy librarian!

What a AMAZING weekend. Brandon and I actually had 2 days in a row off together. I love spending time with him. We went for a long drive up in liberty and by Avon. This time of year is so pretty. All the leaves were changing and everything was so colorful. I woke up Saturday morning and cleaned the WHOLE house while Brandon was duck hunting so we could have the weekend together. I also rearranged our bedroom.... I get bored and do that about once a month. :) My cute little husband got home and said it was his "favorite way" to have our room. He always says that. We went to our Dave Ramsey financial class friday night... we have classes every friday night for 13 weeks. We learned a lot! It is always nice to learn how to manage our money better. Like Dave Ramsey says "Live now like you've never lived before, so you can live later like you've never lived before!" This has been great advice for us. We have paid off two vehicles and are looking to pay off our last one! This feels great. Anyone who wants to have financial peace attend this class. You will reap the benefits for the rest of your life. Now back to the good stuff. :) We watched a scary movie with the title "The EYE" It was scary. It took two nights to watch it because Brandon fell asleep watching it the first night. I am a scaredy cat so I had to turn it off. Ha Ha. Miss London was so cute this weekend. She can never decide who she likes more it's a tie with me and Brandon. Well actually I think I am pulling ahead. She constantly wants to go to the other person. Guess that means we are good parents. I think? Well we had a blast this weekend. I am so grateful to have such a wonderful husband that loves me and a beautiful daughter and son. Where would we be without our family and friends. Can't wait for more fun filled adventures with my hubby and kids! Stay tuned. :)

So Brandon and I have found a new passion in life. We LOVE twilight.... BUT .... Twilight only comes out once a year. We saw the previews for this show called 'Vampire Diaries' on the CW30. We started the season a couple of weeks ago and now we NEVER miss a episode. Talk about your handsome vampire fix. It comes on Thursday nights at... either 7, 8, or 9. Can't remember ha ha. We just record it and watch it so we don't have any commercials (thank you for DVR whoever invented it) This has become a fun little tradition that we look forward to every week. Well last night it was pretty intense. We hadn't eaten yet so I warmed up a lean cuisine (Woo Hoo thanks to whoever invented those too, amazing how portion control helps shed those extra pounds, I've lost 8 pounds just by eating better... anyways....) Brandon made Beef Top Ramen, his favorite, and I know this is bad but we climbed into bed to eat our food. Well my cute husband spilled his top ramen juice all over my pillow. Pretty funny. We changed the pillow case and he even offered to use my pillow. He gave me the fluffier pillow he said ha ha. What a sweetie. We finally got settled and we turned on the vampire diaries! It was so good last night. Elaina is asking stephen lots of questions because he is being so sercretive! Someones girlfriend dies. She gets bit by stephens brother Daman, who escaped from the basement. (He is the bad vampire) anyways, you guys need to start watching this show. We love it and it has been a fun tradition for us. We can't wait until next Thursday!

Life is about laughing!

When a person can no longer laugh at himself, it is time for others to laugh at him.

- I liked this quote. We need to take ourselves a little less seriously!

Peanut butter bars

Ha Ha so I should of taken a picture of my kitchen and myself after I made those peanut butter bars. WHAT A MESS! Oh but was it worth it! I used a different recipe that a friend gave to me. They turned out great. Word to the wise though. Wait until your bottom part cools before you try to frost them. :) They weren't the best looking. But they did taste great!

These sound so yummy! I'm making them tonight

PEANUT BUTTER BARS

2/3 cup brown sugar1/2 cup peanut butter, smooth or chunky1/2 cup chopped peanuts, walnuts or pecans6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened2 eggs1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract3/4 cup whole wheat flour1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Brush or spray a 9 inch square pan with butter or Pam.
In a food processor or mixer, combine sugar, peanut butter, butter, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in baking powder and flour.
Mix or pulse only until combined. The dough should be stiff.
Transfer mixture into buttered pan, spreading evenly to corners; smooth the top.
Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then run a butter knife along outer edge. Cut into serving size portions. Let cool completely before wrapping individually in plastic wrap. Store in an airtight container or freezer if storing for more than 3 days.

The past is the past

Sometimes we all get swept up in the never ending cycle of life. It's work, home, dinner, laundry, and bed. Then we do it all over the next morning. We need to take a step back and remember what is important like doing something for someone else, loving each other, and being grateful for everything we have achieved as a couple and family. Life gets hard, and we will always have our own life struggles. I found that when I point a finger at the problems other people have caused me, I need to point one right back at me. I need to look at what I am doing and how I am reacting. Life is what you make of it. We will always be given trials to work through. We can look at them as burdens or growing experiences. I realize that I cannot change the past, but I need to embrace it because it makes us who we are. We only have one shot at life. One chance to be a good wife, mother, friend, and person. The people that are remembered and loved are the ones that made a positive impact in life. I have had the wrong attitude about a lot of things. I regret the hurt I have caused other people. For those of you who I have hurt with my selfishness I am truly sorry. It took me taking a step back and criticizing myself instead of everyone else to realize the kind of person I had become. I am looking forward to having a new outlook on life. It is a gift we have been given and we need to make the most of it.

Uncle Mike and London