Being Thankful . . . .

Sometimes in life we get so-oo busy with all the everyday things we take certain things for granted! We live in a great country and have what we need to live and be comfortable. This week as I read the weekly email from Garland (my younger brother serving in Peru). I had to say a little prayer of gratefullness once again for the little things in life. He and his companion got a fridge this last week! He is so excited. He said now they can give ice to those in need (which is a lot) I can only imagine that having a fridge in this part of Peru is like getting a brand new car to us?? I am truly grateful for modern technology and applicances! These items make life "easy" with out them we might be "busy" doing other things. I know that since I got married that I love appliances more than other items such as new clothes or shoes. But this week I am especially grateful for the simple things I have and that I am taken care of in every way! I am very blessed.

Happy Birthday MOM!

Mom, Moops, Grandma! She is a great woman! Mom hope your birthday is great. We miss you every day and wish we were closer. Can't wait till we see you again. Thanks for being such a wonderful example to us all and for teaching me how to me a great mom! I had the best teacher. Thanks for everything you have done and do for us. I can't live with out ya! We LOVE you tons, Jeff, Jack, & Sadie XOXOXO

I've Been Tagged!

What was I doing 10 years ago?
1. Just Moved to Boston, MA
2. Paid 33 cents a pound for Pumpkins! I was crazy.
3. Having the best time of my life.
4. Just met my life long friend Rachel McGarry
5. Just got back from a visit to the birth place of Joseph Smith Sharon, Vermont

What Are 5 things on my To-Do List Today?
1. Vacuum
2. Finish cleaning Craft room
3. Make a CVS run.
4. Pick up Kaeden and Acacia from school!
5. Make dinner

What are my 5 favorite snacks?
1. Brownies
2. Pumpkin Chocolate Cookies!
3. Chips and Salsa
4. Tornado's from QT just opened!!
5. Pumpkin Chocolate cookies..... they are the best.

What 5 things would I do if I was a millionaire?
1. Travel!!
2. Be debt free
3. Pay off my families' mortgages but not tell them!!
4. Buy a Jet so I can visit Jack's gram Moops! TONS!!
5. Buy a flower shop!! Send everyone flowers just because.... For Jeff let him build his hot rods!!

5 places I have lived:
1. Maricopa, AZ
2. Tremonton, UT
3. Gilbert, AZ
4. Stow, Massachusetts
5. Garland, UT

5 jobs I have had:
1.Stay at home Mommy!!
2. Wendy's Co-Manager
3. Pizza Plus
4. Nanny in MA & AZ
5. Hogi Yogi

The 5 people I tag are:
1. Molly (do it on my space!!)
And everyone else that hasn't already!!

More Beach

Jack liked playing in the Sand alot more than the water. The waves were pretty nice! Lots of surfing going on!! Jack and Papa buried Jacks feet in the sand. Jack crawled and dug all over the beach. It was a perfect first beach experience. Thanks dad for taking us! Next time we are going to make a sand castle!!

Celebrating In San Diego. . .

Last year Jeff went deep sea fishing for his birthday! So we are keeping that as a tradition in our family. This year I wanted the family to go, so we packed up with PaPa and Grandma Barnum and off we went. On thursday night we stopped half way for dinner and Jack rode his very first merry-go-round! It was a two story beautiful venition merry-go-round. He also went for a ride on a corvette! It was a very fun stop for Jack!! Friday was my 28th birthday!! Wow can't believe that... Jeff and his dad (papa) went fishing. They had a great time but no fishes came home with them! They are learning more of what to do next year everytime!:) Today we went to the Lego Land Sealife Aquarium. It is brand new. It opened only two weeks ago. We all enjoyed the time spent there. I forgot the camera card so those picture will come once we are home. Next stop was the beach! SOOOO much fun with my son. He had such a great time playing in the sand. We were covered from head to toe, but made the memories mom wanted! Tonight for dinner we went to my favorite. PF Changs! It was delicious! I am sure we will have more pics to share before we make it home. Fun Fun birthdays we are having!

Jack's 1st Birthday

Jack's 1st birthday was very fun. I can't believe it has been one year since this precious gift came into our home. We are so blessed with a great little boy! He had a lot of fun with the kids and opening presents. I do think he loved the cake part the most. He was a little slow getting started. He kept looking at me like are you going to get upset if I really make this mess! It was great. Thanks to everyone who came and helped make it such a wonderful day for our son. Jack mom and dad love you more and more everyday!

So Tired

Jack has never just randomly fallen asleep while playing until now. He got some new blocks and he absolutely loves them. But needed a little rest! He is so fun and so cute. I can't image life with out him!

Missing Everyone!

Jack's going through with-draw from being surrounded by lots of family and love! Jeff left for California on Monday afternoon for a school for work. Moops (my mom) and Molly left last night for home. So Jack goes to our bedroom to find Jeff monday night and he isn't there! This morning when he woke up he went right to Molly's bedroom and she was gone! I think he is board with just mom around. We miss you all and can't wait for our dad to come home on Thursday night! Thanks for a great week mom and molly. We had a ton of fun, painting the kitchen red!! And scrapbooking molly's east coast pics. 21 pages!! Go us! Love you all.

Happy 18th Birthday!

Molly Jo is 18 today. What a great young lady she is. I am so proud to call her my sister. She is a beautiful, smart, and a very caring girl! We love her tons and miss her even more. I am proud of who you are and what you stand for. Keep reaching for your goals! You are AWESOME. We can't wait until one more week for you to be here! Love the next few days! You will never understand how much you will or can miss it till your home! Thanks for being the best sister ever! XOXOX

Leah Briann Neeley

Leah was born on Monday at 6:26 pm. Weighing in at 7 lbs even and was 19 inches long. We are sooo excited for Shaun and Briann. She is adorable and I can hardly wait to meet her. (Briann is Jeff's Sister)

Lazy Summer Days

So there isn't much to do in AZ when its 110 + everyday. We are so glad to have neighbors with a pool! Jack loves to swim. Their pool is great because is has a large area only a few inches deep so he can just crawl around and play. He was playing with these goggles and so I put them on to take a picture! So So CUTE.

4th of July

"The Dessert" was stressful to both myself while making it and to Jeff for dealing with me while making it!! Thanks hunny for your love and support. You're the best. My neighbor Jill had this recipe and its to die for yummy so I made it for our 4th of July BBQ Swim party. The girls wanted the recipe and said just put it on your blog. So here it is for all to enjoy!! Here is the link. I used a gram cracker crust, black berries instead of blue, white chocolate chips, and cool whip in a can!!

http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/recipesearch/printable.jsp?recipeId=10189

Vacuum Help....

So at least he is helping me with the cleaning right?? He is such a show off to his daddy with the camera! I often wonder how a survived so long with out my little boy! Love you Jack!

Spagetti. . ..

Jack loves spagetti. He just keeps eating and eating when he gets it. What a funny little boy. I have always made the sauce from scrath, but then bought a bottle of Ragu just cause it was on sale and good for food storage! Well Jeff and Jack love it so makes an easy dinner for mom. Especially since she doesn't like spagetti!

Grandpa Tom's Horse

Grandpa Tom's horse is a little different! Moops gave me a ride around the stock yards. What a fun morning on the farm! Miss you all.....

First Horse Ride

Jack got his first horse ride while in Utah the end of May. The guys where moving cows and at the end Uncle Chubb gave him a ride!! Thanks Uncle Chubb.

Finally, Updating !!! When we were in Utah Jack got to mow the lawn with Aunt Molly. She has it alot easier than when I usded to it! We can't wait to see you Molly Jo! Hang in there we LOVE you....XOXO

Flying to Utah. . . .

Jack is only 9 months old but today will be his third round trip flight to Utah. What a spoiled little boy! And Mommy!! It's graduation time again. We will be gone almost two week. We will share lots a pictures while we are there. Can't wait to see you all tonight!!

Diamond Backs & Trace Adkins!

Saturday night Jeff took me to the game and the concert. I was SO excited to go. I felt sick all day and was so tired by the time the game got over i just wanted to go home. We stayed for a couple of songs. Thanks hunny you are the BEST. Love you!!

Siblings. . . .

I ment to do this sooner, but here it finally is. I had to travel to Utah/Idaho the first part of March to bury my grandfather. My moms dad passed away in Malad, ID. Jack and I flew home to be with the family. While at the veiwing, I was in charge of taking picture with my mothers very nice camera, so Molly started taking some with mine. What fun picture of us kids. Just missing Garland! We miss him and are so proud of him serving the Lord in Peru. Grandpa was a great person and we miss him already. Love you Molly, Josh, and James can't wait to see you in a few weeks.

MR. BUG

Jack loves Mr. Bug! He is a hand me down toy from our neighbor Mya. We just got a new one we are calling Miss Octie. She is an ocatapus. We will have to get a picture with her. LAMAZE is the brand and they are great toys, lots of COLORS, SOUNDS, SHAPES... best part is Mr. Bug is washable. Thanks Mya for the wonderful friend.

How to use your IRS rebate check!

I read this and thought I had to share .. . . enjoy!

"The Administration said each of us would get a rebate check to stimulate the economy: If we spend the money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China. If we spend it on gasoline, it will go to the Arabs, if we purchase a computer it will go to India, if we purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala, if we purchase a good car it will go to Japan, if we purchase useless crap it will go to Taiwan and non of it will help the American economy.

We need to keep that money here in America. The only way to keep that money here at home is to spend it at yard sales, since those are the only businesses still in the U.S."

Ocatillo

The landscaping and the plants are so different down here, but I am finding new ones that I love. This is my latest purchase of a new Ocatillo Tree(considered an exotic desert plant- zoom in and notice the GREEN transportation label from the AZ department of Agriculture) The tag makes it legal, not stolen from the desert. I even kept my Home Depot reciept just in case someone might think otherwise! It is in the cactus family, and next spring will have beautiful blossoms on it. Thanks sweetheart for getting me this and planting it for me. Your the BEST. The front yard is finished on this side! Hurray!!

Too Many??? Not Enough????

Well, personally I think there is NEVER TOO many pots with flowers in them! I have been having SOO much fun this year in my yard. I have no job and I am not pregnant this summer. I have lots of time to water and enjoy every minute of it. We hung a swing on the back patio, (pictures to come) so Jack can have fun watching mommy water. He sits in the stroller in the front yard and watches some more. Got to LOVE this WARM weather, I might not in another month when I have to water TWICE a day!! THIRTEEN pots to be exact.... too many???