Sad

We got Jake for Brooklyn's 4th birthday. He was only 8 weeks old. Jake was so loving and playful from the beginning. Every time we went outside to walk or play he was so excited and just happy to be with us.

We posted him up on the Odell's bulletin board because we are moving and the new house owners do not tolerate animals. I really didn't think we'd be able to find a family for him in time. We are moving this Friday!

I had several phone calls from a couple families but the second family was really excited to get him. They'd been looking for a lab dog. Their mom had labs. The father told me that his son has gone through dog training classes and I felt so good to know that Jake would be well taken care of. Today is Jake's 1st birthday too.
This truly was a blessing. I was really stressing about how we were going to find a good home for Jake in time.

I didn't realize how sad I'd be when we gave him away. He really was a sweet and cheerful part of our family. Any time we felt bad we'd go out to sit with Jake and he'd cheer you up in no time.
Good bye Jake. I know you will love your new family.

Its a miracle!

Finally!!! Everything has been worked out with Phyllis. She is the one that owns this PINK house. I can't believe how hard it was to convince her that we are good people who would make good renters. The house was Phyllis's mother's house and I think she is very sentimental about it.

Its about 1200 sq ft. and Yes it IS pepto pink. Outside, inside and everywhere! She loves the color too. She wants to repaint it the same color. AHH. I'll say this though. It has 3 bedrooms and a dishwasher and that's what I wanted. The back yard is amazing and the kids are going to love it.

We move in December 1st. I'll update anyone who wants our address when we switch our mail over.

My Boy

The other day we were all laughing at something funny that Mason said and Brooklyn asked me what she used to say as a baby. I thought a minute and said gosh I'm going to have to get out the video tapes cause I can't remember very well. It made me worried. Our video camera broke before we had Mason. I don't have very much of Mason recorded at all. I want to write down as much as I can remember now before this horrible memory of mine files it away, never to be remembered again.

We didn't know if Mase was ever going to talk. He was such a quiet baby. Brooklyn spoke so early that I was beginning to get worried about him. But once he started, he just kept on going.
Right now Mason is saying the cutest things. (We think they are cute anyway) Our family adopts words when we think they are cute.

Mason isms:
Blankwet-blanket
muka see?-Let me see?
pweez? Last time?- Please? Just one last time?
You fine it!-Find it mom!
There are so many more that I can't remember right now.

(2 1/2 years old)

(oct. 2008)

For a while there Mase started making these hilarious faces when he was excited. He'd even ball up his little fists and shake. One day he just stopped. Its so sad when that happens.

(Aug. 2008)

I know I already posted this but I can't get over how crazy and how much of a joker Mase is...

I was bathing Brooklyn when suddenly she yelled at me that mason just jumped back into the tub the stinker!
(Feb or March 2008)

I can't believe how different my kids are one from another. Brooklyn, I can't get to eat lettuce to save her life but Mason loves veggies. Salad, carrots, fruit you name it. He hardly touches meat. Who would have thought! I just hope he keeps it up. I could use one non picky eater in my house!!
(July 2008)

(Jan 2008)

(July 2007)

That's my little guy! Yes, he dresses up even more than his sister does. heels, boas, purses you name it. His dad is beginning to worry... jk!
(March 2007)

(June 2007)

When Mason started to crawl it wasn't really with his arms and knees. He was my army crawler! Hey, it build upper body strength.

(Oct 2006)

I absolutely love it when my kids finally get their bottom two teeth! I love the 2 tooth smiles!!!

This is the picture of mason's official first smile!

(Sept. 2006)

This one is out of order but Jer just has a way with the kids. He can make mason just crack his head off. They love their daddy.

Here is Mason at two weeks old. Its not his first picture but its the one we chose to put in our baby announcements. I can't believe how much he's changed since then. The time really does fly by.
(June 2006)

We love our little bug! He has been a joy to our family. Mason is very warm and caring. He loves to give hugs and shares so well (most of the time). It amazes me how these little babies come into our lives and your whole world revolves around them. Its like your heart beats out of your chest once you hold that little spirit in your arms. Their bright eyes so curious and willing to learn. I feel so blessed to be able to teach and grow with my kids.

BYU Ballet!

Here we are waiting to see the Ballet!
So excited!

Tuesday night Jer took me and the kids to see the BYU Ballet perform Fairy Tales and Fantasy at the college in Sterling. Call me weird or crazy but I just love shows like this. Ballets, Broadway, Operas you name it and I get mesmerized by the talent and the stories.

This Ballet was really nice. It was geared for kids. They opened with a dance about Raymonda then they did Romeo and Juliet. Brooklyn loved Sleeping Beauty because they had so many different fairies dance. Giselle was next but my favorite was Swan Lake.

The dancers were all housed in volunteer member's houses and even some non LDS families were kind enough to offer their homes.

I have to tell my sweet husband Jer how much I love him for taking us. I know he'd rather stay home and watch football or something manly but it really was a one time opportunity for us in Akron. It felt so good to get out of the house.

Jer even noticed that one of the male dancers had went to the same mission as him! Small world.

I've Been Tagged

Tagged

8 T.V. shows that I like to watch......
1. Jon and Kate Plus 8
2. CSI NY & Las Vegas
3. 24 hour design
4. The Big Reveal on HGTV
5. Ghost Hunters!
6. House
7. The 70s Show
8. Ace of Cakes

8 things that happened yesterday.......
1. Got Brooklyn ready for school
2. Fed Mase breakfast while Jer took Brook to school
3. Vacuumed, swept, and did dishes
4. Got Mase and myself dressed for the day
5. Showed a family our dog but they weren't ready for all of his energy :o(
6. Made lunch and picked Brook up from school
7. drove to Ft. Morgan to pick Jer's meds up and went to Greeley for Christmas Shopping!
8. Ate dinner, got home and got the kids ready for bed.

8 favorite places to eat(no particular order)
1. Wonderful House!
2. Lone Star
3. Red Robbin
4. Red Lobster
5. Jonny Carinos
6. Wingers (there isn't one here:o()
7. Texas Road House
8. Don Pablos

8 things I am looking forward to......
1. Getting out of Debt so we can buy a House!
2. losing weight
3. Brooklyn starting K.
4. Mason learning to stop getting into everything!
5. Moving into the pink house (Sometime this century!)
6. Jer getting his Journeyman's license
7. Going back to school one day to get a degree
8. Going on vacation! Anywhere special or out of the Country.

8 things on my wish list......
1. To pay off bills and be able to breath easier
2. Get food storage together for all 4 of us!
3. To be closer to the temple so we can attend regularly.
4. To settle down and stop moving every other year
5. get a tired climber so I can get in shape without having to feel embarrassed around other people.
6. Move at least to a town that has a walmart and isn't 30 minutes from church!
7. live closer to family and close friends.
8 lose some weight so I feel better about myself.

people that I tag.......
1. Amanda
2. Courtney
3. Leah
4. Melody
5. Faith
6. Erica
7. Nikki
8. Jen

And anyone else that wants to.

I've got the crazies!

Here's some comics to laugh at...

Okay I haven't really posted lately because my life is all topsy turvy crazy lately. We are moving hell or high water December 15th at the latest. We just aren't sure where we are moving to right now. The house I had looked into is not going to work out for Jer soooo we started over. Jer's friend from work gave us a number to someone else who has a bigger home (about 1200 sq ft). We've called and looked at the place. Its really old and needs to be updated but it definitely has the 3 bedrooms we were hoping for and a dishwasher. The owner is an older lady who doesn't seem to want to tell me yes or no if we are going to rent from her. I'm all freaked out because December is creeping up on us. It'll be here before I know it. I don't know what to do? We don't really have any more options here in Akron. I'm either going to lose my mind before this is through or have a heart attack. I just needed to vent. Thanks for listening. :o)

Memories...

Here's the rules...

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.We all have some sort of memory..
SO DO IT :)

Thank you...

I read this article and all I could think was "finally"! I'm so tired of people posting terrible Forged videos of "supposed missionaries" storming into a same sex home and ripping their wedding rings off their fingers! No one would ever do that! That is just the kind of thing that gives the world a horrible view about our church. We may not believe in the same things but that doesn't mean we are heartless and guile! So I say Amen to this article and thank you for speaking out. Just like I may not agree that the president elect should be our next president. I still need to bow to the will of the people and respect that. I respect that the people have voted and it is time to move on.

Catholic Bishop Decries Religious Bigotry Against Mormons


SACRAMENTO 7 November 2008 (This news release was issued by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento) The following statement was released today by Bishop William Weigand, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento and former Bishop of Salt Lake City, in response to attacks on (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) for supporting California’s Proposition 8, defending the traditional definition of marriage:


“Catholics stand in solidarity with our Mormon brothers and sisters in support of traditional marriage — the union of one man and one woman — that has been the major building block of Western Civilization for millennia.
“The ProtectMarriage coalition, which led the successful campaign to pass Proposition 8, was an historic alliance of people from every faith and ethnicity. LDS were included — but so were Catholics and Jews, Evangelicals and Orthodox, African-Americans and Latinos, Asians and Anglos.
“Bigoted attacks on Mormons for the part they played in our coalition are shameful and ignore the reality that Mormon voters were only a small part of the groundswell that supported Proposition 8.
“As the former bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, I can attest to the fact that followers of the Mormon faith are a good and generous people with a long history of commitment to family and giving to community causes.
“I personally decry the bigotry recently exhibited towards the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — coming from the opponents of Proposition 8, who ironically, have called those of us supporting traditional marriage intolerant.
“I call upon the supporters of same-sex marriage to live by their own words — and to refrain from discrimination against religion and to exercise tolerance for those who differ from them. I call upon them to accept the will of the people of California in the passage of Proposition 8.”

SOURCE: Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento

Saturdays are the best kind of days...

This morning Jer and I were planning to completely clean out our garage and purge ourselves of unnecessary junk. Well since Jer is on call this weekend, he of course got called out to fix a neutral. So life goes on and I bundled up the kids to start going through the mountain of boxes.
It took me about 30 minutes before I realized um some of these boxes are way too heavy for me so I re piled all of the boxes for another time when Jer's muscles could be put to use. :o)

Instead I went to the front yard with the kids while they colored with chalks and played with sticks. Until of course it got way too cold. Later, we made hot chocolate and settled down to watch Beauty and the Beast. The kids were so excited to snuggle up on their bean bags with their favorite blankets and some pop corn.
I love Saturdays!

On Guard!

This Brook saying look mom! I can make fire. Umm that's pretty scary. ;o)

Mason and his chalks.

Windy!

Holy cow its windy today! I feel bad for Jer since he's got to be outside all day. Today is the first day its actually seemed like fall to me. Lately its been so warm that I was wondering when the cold would hit. Well today it has! I took the kids to Brook's school to drop her off and the wind blew so had it almost slammed the door on Mason as I was getting him out of the car. Man!

Our new president of the United States of America...

Can I say we live in scary times? Yes Obama won, and it terrifies me. I heard from somewhere that with Obama as president our Country is going to hang by a thread. Well, I'm sorry but I feel like our Country is already hanging by a thread here. I just hope and pray it doesn't snap. Heaven help us!