Cute table

We have been wanting a kids table and chairs for a long time now. Our sister has the cutest table with animals for chairs and I tried to find one like that but every one was so expensive. I found this cute one at www.kidstablesandchairs.com We like it since it has a little shelf to put coloring books or whatever under it.

This is the best book!

I love this book! Jer and I have been really trying to work on our food storage and emergency essentials lately. We were so lost. We had no idea how to start. I am a girl that loves check lists and this book has it all. We were able to sit down together and take the books suggestions about what foods people eat and write out a list of the foods we eat as a family and personal items. It tells you how often to rotate food and how many lbs each person may need for a year. We've already started on water since that is your basic need. I just wanted to post this book for everyone how is interested. It is only about 12.99 if you want to buy it. Just google it and I'm sure you'll find it.


Practical Preparedness - Revised Tina Monson

Build Your Basics for Two on $10 a week in One Year!

Practical Preparedness is for everyone that desires to be "basically" prepared. Compiled in this book are the essential elements of emergency preparedness and food storage in an overall beginner's format. The information in this book will give you the insight on how to start focusing on important basics, staying within your budget and completing your goals without becoming completely overwhelmed. Use it as your preparedness workbook, make notes and refer to it often to help you practice "practical preparedness."

Some essential elements included in this book are monthly and weekly food storage plans, 72 hour kits, first aid kits, emergency planning information, food storage know how and beginner food storage recipes. If you utilize the information in this book, you cannot help but be successful with your preparedness.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!



Its so funny how I feel like our kids got spoilt even though we toned presents down a lot this year. Brooklyn was so good Christmas morning. She woke up and got mom and dad up before going to peek at the presents. All of us went to get Mason up and all he said was I want to sweep (sleep). We were amazed that even when we asked him if he wanted to open gifts he was still all about more sleep. The stinker.



Grandma and Grandpa Liggett sure spoilt them this year. We wish we could live closer. Santa decided to get them some GEO Trax this year since they love trains. Its been fun but so so loud!



Brook loves her Hannah Montana doll and musical instruments.

Mason is all about the tractors this year :o)

Here's the GEO TRAX train.

I made Brook a rice bag cause she kept on stealing mine to warm up and sleep with. She loved it.

Mason loved his cars and mat he got to play with.

Later that morning Jer's parents stopped by to eat lunch with us and they gave the grandkids gifts. I made Ham, potatoes and a green bean dish. Mom brought a jello salad, a cherry cheesecake and pecan pie. Yum!

It was nice to have both girls home from college to celebrate with us.

Brooklyn's First Christmas Program

Thursday night was Brooklyn's first Christmas program at her Preschool. She was so excited. I practiced with her every day so she knew all of her songs. She looked really cute in her New Christmas dress from her Grandma Liggett.

When her program started our sweet little Brooklyn was too excited to sing. She twirled around, waved to just about everybody and just was too star struck to sit still and sing.

One of the funniest things she did that night was while her group was ringing bells she said really loud "Wait! You forgot the red Bell!" Everyone in the crowd laughed. Jer and I were quite embarrassed but what can you do? She is only 4.

Those who were there told Jer that its kids like Brook that keep the programs from getting boring. Oh that makes me feel SO much better. :o)

Snow Day!

It has finally snowed here in Akron. The kids were so excited to play outside. I loved it too since I can let them play out in the back yard without worrying about them. Its so nice. They were cute too.

What its all about

I have finally been able to go pick up our Christmas cards. Yay! I sent them out today so hopefully they will get there in time. This year has been one of the most exciting Christmases for our family. Brooklyn and Mason definitely are starting to understand what Christmas is all about. We've been trying to teach them that Christmas isn't just about presents and candy but about our Saviors birth and love and what that means for the world. Although I don't want to destroy Brooklyn's ideas about Santa, I don't want her to think its all about him either. I never realized what a dilemma that was until I've become a parent of older kids.

This year has been tough as far as material things go. We aren't going to be giving our kids as many gifts as we could in the past. To make up for that, I've been trying to do more Christmas projects like making Cinnamon ornament cookies for the Christmas tree. watching Christmas movies and reading from our 25 days of Christmas book. The kids don't always sit still and soak it all in but I'm sure some of it is getting through. I really think these are the things that will make Christmas special not all the gifts and stuff. I hope anyway.

4th in the 4th...

Okay! I wasn't going to do this but after several friends have been tagged, I got curious. Here it goes. The fourth picture in my fourth folder is...


Brooklyn on her first day of preschool saying "Mom! stop taking my picture."

All I Want For Christmas Is My Bottom Tooth

Yesterday Brooklyn stayed home from school with a fever. I noticed that her loose tooth was really wiggly but not quite ready to come out. Today she is home again but I think she is much better. All of a sudden Brook came up to me and said mommy, my tooth was really wiggly and I pulled it out. I didn't swallow it but I can't find it! After much searching on our white carpet for a white tooth...I found it!
She is so excited for the tooth fairy to come tonight.

Washing machine blues...

Just when everything is starting to work out, you get thrown a curve ball! We already knew that we needed to replace our kitchen sink faucet and bathroom tub faucet. I've finally gotten my head wrapped around the idea that we are going to have to do a little work in this house.

Saturday night I started a load in our washing machine. I noticed it wasn't draining and it starting making a really loud and funny noise. We started dumping the water into a bucket and when we were almost through draining the machine, I remembered that we have a fish tank hose to syphon it. Jer worked for a long time to figure out the problem. I guess the hose was plugged up. Thank goodness I have a handy husband. I would have been so lost on how to fix it. Jer got a lot of water on the floor in the process of fixing the machine so we had tons of towels down sopping it us and our little home fan.
So Sunday morning comes around and Jer starts the washing machine to make sure it really is fixed and what do we find? A huge mess! Water was everywhere! The pipe for the cold water had leaked all over so Jer fixed it and he had to get some heavy duty fans from work to help dry us out.
Now everything is fixed and working properly. I'm just so grateful we didn't have to buy a new washing machine! I don't know how we would have afforded that.

house updates!

Here's some updated pics of the house. Its coming along! Mason's room is done. He loves his big boy bed all by himself.

Brooklyn's room is so girly. I love it!

Here is brooklyn just chilin by the fire! She loves sitting there getting toasty.

Jer starting the fire for the first time.

our back yard and our first snow!

It has arrived!

Today I received the most wonderful gift! My grandma Bailey made me a photo album of my mom. I have really been begging for photos of her for a long time now. I only have 1 picture here and my dad misplaced our box of photos from when I grew up. (I don't blame him since they've moved a lot.)

Today it came! It was so nice to see her and see pictures of her as a kid. Most of the pictures, I'd never even seen before but I've heard the stories. Thank you so much Grandma! love you!

In this page is Grandma and Grandpa Bailey and my mom as a baby.
Here she is in my Grandparents orchard and with her family.

The middle picture on the left is when my mom and family were asked to be in a western while they were living in Mexico.

The bottom corner picture on the right is when my mom dressed up like Auntamima with black camo on her face.

Mom's graduation from Ricks before she went to BYU-Provo.

The right is my parent's engagement picture.

My mom and dad's wedding and when they had ME!

Me as a baby, with my cousins, my baptism and random school pics.

Here is us at one of our trips out to Idaho to visit the Grandparents.

Words can't even describe how it means to me to get these pictures. Thank you... thank you... thank you!

Its Kissmas Time!

Its that time again... To get out the Christmas tree and decorate. This year has been so much fun since Mason is finally understanding more about Christmas. The kids are so excited for Santa to come!
Mason calls Christmas- Kissmas. He runs around the house saying Yay its kissmas time!

Here Jer and the kids are getting the tree out.

Brook and Mason did a good job of decorating the tree. Almost all by themselves.

This is Brooklyn. She called the tinsel her Golden. I thought it was too cute!

Mason so excited to decorate the tree

Daddy with the kiddos.

Family Photos

I can't believe its been a whole year since we've taken family pictures. So much has happened since last November. The kids are really growing up and Mason is no longer my little baby but a little toddler. We took these at a park in Sterling on Thanksgiving day. Hope you like!

Thanksgiving!

Today we drove up to Jer's parents house to eat dinner. Mom Smith and I split up the food so we didn't have too much to make. I made the sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, pumpkin turtle pie, Cranberry Cherry dish (I forgot it at home but I did make it.) and I made mom a truffle chocolate cake for her birthday.
Cindy made the turkey, potatoes, green bean casserole and a fruit salad. YUM! Everything was so good.

I love Thanksgiving, not only for the great food but also for the warm memories and family you get to be around.

I'm so thankful for my family. They are so wonderful. Both my parents and grandparents but also my extended family and my in laws. I feel so lucky to have all of them in my life. I'm especially grateful this year for my kids and wonderful husband. It is so amazing to watch these children grow and learn. I love you Jer for being there for me every step of the way!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!