Happy Fathers Day

Almost 14 years ago, I became a Mother. And at the same time, Ben became a father. Since that day, he has:

**stayed up late with kids
**put multiple lego sets together
**sat through concerts, programs, promotions...
** cut hair

**given baths
** put up a trampoline, bunk beds, shelves...
**moved furniture
**built lego tables

**gone camping
**gone to Scouts
**barbequed more times than I can count
**taken the family to Disneyland, LEGOLAND, Six Flags, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, along with museums, science centers...

**gone to the pool
**gone to the beach, hauling chairs, towels, buckets etc.
**gone to practices
**helped the coaches

**gone to Scouts
**helped with homework
**built Pinewood Derby cars

There are so many more that I could never list them all. I love my husband and the father that he is. He is a loving husband who has financially, physically & emotionally supported me.

Happy Fathers Day, Ben! We really do love you to "pieces".

Weekend wrap up

Life is always insanely busy at our house. 7 people going in 7 different directions. The school/work week is so busy, that I try to stay off-line on the weekend. Just be in the moments with my family.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

This past weekend we got a lot of family time in, which I needed!

Friday night was GNO, or Girls Night Out! Harmony and I headed out with another mother/daughter pair to see the BYU International Folk Dancers. As we were sitting before the dancing began, I laughed as Harmony and her friend discussed which guys were the cutest. My girl has grown up...

We loved watching the dancers. The dancing, the music, the energy...Those dancers had an amazing amount of energy! I was ready for sleep after watching them!

I had to force Harmony to get a photo with one of the guy dancers. Luckily her friends helped!

Saturday was filled with the normal Saturday stuff. Cleaning, errands, planting cucumbers...and working around the house.

Saturday nights are almost always family movie nights. We all sat around snuggling, eating popcorn and watching the Rise of the Guardians. Perfect night for me :)

Sunday was full of GREEEEEN! We started our morning (or the top o' the mornin') with some Lucky Charms and green milk. We also enjoyed bagel pizzas on GREEN bagels, green grapes, salad...I made a little quick green treat for my church class and called it good. Although we weren't all wearing green, I think we got lucky and no one got pinched.

A week and a half to go until spring break and I am looking forward to it. This Mama is ready to sleep in for a little bit!

How was your weekend? Were you able to do anything fun?!

14 days of Love...contd.

I got a little behind over the weekend, posting some of my ideas for the 14 days of Love. So here they are...

Day 2:

Ben: A box of Milk Duds, with a note that says, " I am so glad I didn't marry a DUD" (OK it was a little lame but...whatever!)

The Kids: Got a bag of gummy bears that said, "My life would be un BEARable without you!"

Day 3:

Ben: I bought this little tin from Target, so it was pretty easy! It is a tin full of green gummy frogs that says My Prince. Then of course I had to add, "I had to kiss a lot of frogs before I found my prince."

The Kids: I filled a little paper chinese takeout box with a $1 bill and $2 in change. Their note said, " I wouldn't CHANGE a thing about you!"

(They LOVED getting money!)

Day 4:
Ben: Since he has class tonight, I wanted to give him something to snack on that wasn't candy! I got some jerky from Sams with a note that says, " I am so glad that you love me, even when I can be a little JERKy". (Kind of another lame one but...)

The Kids: Word Search puzzle books that say, "Some of the things you do can "PUZZLE" me, but I can't help loving you!"

Have you been doing anything for your kids every day? It can be a lot of work, but I love seeing their faces when they see the flag on their mailbox is up. I love that my hubby checks for his treat too :)

14 Days

I love February. It is one of my favorite months!

**3 of my favorite people were born in this month
** watching the movie Ground Hogs Day
** Valentines Day
**Presidents Day weekend

I know that not everyone loves Valentines Day. I know that I am a romantic. I know all that. But it is my favorite holiday. My daughter, Harmony tells me it is because I am married and that I wouldn't feel the same if I was single.But its not true! I love that there is a day set aside, just to show & tell people how much we love them.

A few years ago, I started doing the 14 Days of Love. It is a fun tradition and I love it. This is the first time my husband has been home for Valentines Day in 2 years! So I have been including him this year as well.

So here is what I did for Day 1, starting with my kids lunches:

A heart filled with heart shape fruit snacks

Heart shaped pb & j with a heart food pick

Graham cracker pretzels, red apples, pb

 

Their treat was a pudding and so the spoon was wrapped in a napkin & held together with that cute heart shaped clothes pin!

OK, here is the treat in their mail boxes

 

The 4 older kids already had their mailboxes, so I had to come up with something different for Ben & Mason

 



Bens Valentine

For the kids: You have the "WRITE" stuff with a pencil shaped notepad (Target $1 spot) with a Valentine stacker pencil (Target Valentines section 4/$1.50)









Mason isn't old enough to get the whole "write stuff" thing so he gets a notebook & markers..for my lil' pip squeak :)

I will try and let you know where I got all the items. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!



Superbowl Sunday

One day while wandering down the aisles of the commissary with my 6th child coupon binder, I was stopped by a cute elderly couple.

The husband, " Look at all those coupons! Boy are you ready to shop! Honey, look at this!"
The wife comes over and says, "I am impressed. How do you find the time to do that?"

So I told her my secret...".I LOVE my husband. My husband LOVES sports. I am not a fan. I want to spend time with my husband. My husband wants to spend time with me. My husband wants to watch sports. Soooo, he watches sports (and I try very hard not to complain) and I clip coupons. It is a win/win. We are both doing what we want aaaand spending time together."

She winked at me and said, "you are a smart girl. And I am not just talking about the coupons." Awww, I love sweet comments from random strangers.

So why is this non-sports fan looking forward to Superbowl? Because of the deals of course!!

I got my ads yesterday and there are so many good sales!

Yesterday I printed off coupons good for .50/1 (2Liter) of Diet Pepsi. Score one for me. There are coupons & deals out for my hubbys favorite pizzas! Score another point for me.

Of course, lets not forget the deals and coupons for:
**chips & salsa
**nuts
**frozen appetizers
**crackers
**chips
**dips
**condiments

Also there are a plethora of fun recipes!

While I am not even exactly sure who is playing, I know who is going to score the most! Time to get my coupon on!!

A look back...

Tomorrow  a lot of us will  look back and remember where and what we were doing when the towers fell.

When our world was rocked by the events of 9/11. The devestation as well as the acts of bravery. Our nation coming together. The good along with the bad.

My day was a typical one. Up early, trying to have quiet time before my kids got up. My husband wasn't going to school that day and so he was also still asleep. I turned the tv on for background noise. When I realized that every channel had the same image.

I finally stopped and watched. I couldn't believe it and ran up to wake up my husband. We lay on our bed in utter shock.

My husband was home that day, instead of being at school. Why? He was headed to the US Navy recruiting office to enroll in the collegiate program. Suddenly his decision took on a whole new meaning.

I told him not to go. I was worried. He replied, "this is more reason to go."

Today my husband was promoted from Lt. to Lt. Commander. This is a very big promotion. He has worked hard and he deserves it.

9/11 isn't just a time for me to remember those events. It is also a time to reflect on our life in the military. The good along with the bad.

While I celebrate my husband, and his accomplishments, I also give myself a pat on the back. For nights alone. For celebrating birthdays, holidays and anniversaries spent alone. For holding kids while crying for their Dad. For being both Mom and Dad. For all the tears I held back. And for all those that I let flow. For homecomings.

May we never forget. Never forget the ones who gave their lives that day. Never forget the ones who are still fighting for our freedoms today. Never forget the families that give them support.

Never forget.