Tag!! It's about time!

Ok so I have been really bad at this. I have had several friends and family that have tagged me going back awhile and so I thought I better get going on this. So her goes......ENJOY!

Things I was doing 10 years ago:
Oh I don't even want to go back to ten years ago. I don't know if I can remember that far back. I guess I'll give it a shot.
--Hanging out with friends in good ol' Sugar!(Much love to you all. For I'm afraid of what might have been)
--Probably being the biggest nerd on the planet only in my head I was way cool.
--I used to ride my bike like 3 miles to my friend Ali Bergs house and we would make Pinoche(a fudge like candy.)
-- Going up to Island Park to Heather or Lori's cabins and having some sweet girl talk! Such fun!

Foods I enjoy
-- Skittles (more specifically, the purple bag!)
-- Mexican Food (especially chips and salsa!
-- Fruit
-- Cookie Dough Icecream!
-- Italian Food!

Foods I can't stand
-- Tomatoes
-- Sushi or anything that looks or smells like it is still alive!
-- Seafood

Some of my bad habits:
-- I can be quite the sassy gal! (That's right I admit it.)
-- On top of being sassy I am very stubborn.
-- I am not very organized. I have things scattered everywhere. (although this is something that I am currently working to improve on.)

Places I have lived
-- I lived in five different towns before I was five.
-- Rupert, Idaho (good times, not really....I lived on a boy's ranch 20 something miles outside of town where my dad worked and we lived on sight.)
-- Sugar City, Idaho (moved here the beginning of Jr. High and had some great friends!!)
-- Ogden, Utah( oh the good ol single college days! And were I met my hubby.)
-- And you all know where I live now so come on by and see us!

Jobs I’ve had
-- Workin Spud Harvest in the "dog house" picking dirt clods, weeds, rotten spuds, and an occasional field mouse off the conveyer. ( Your all jealous of this one I know, except for those fellow Idahoans who are reading this and also had this fun job.)
-- Kiddie Kandids! (I loved this job but after three years I burnt out)
-- Convergys (Totally sucked! Please avoid this career path if at all possible.)
-- I currently work as a home and family specialist! Hee hee. ( My duties...Everything!)

Things people probably don’t know about me
-- Even though I was raised in Idaho almost all my life, I was born in Utah.
-- Some of you know this and find it amusing so I will include it. I used to walk my pig every day as a child.
-- I have never broken a bone or been in the hospital besides having my two kids.
-- I have a fear of taking pills and public speaking.
-- I have a Twin! A twin cousin that is! My cousin Micaela and I were born on the same day, same hospital, same room, and so on. She is eight hours older than I. We really think we are quite awesome having this twinner cousin bond! Love ya Micaela!

I tag everyone and anyone who wants to!

Remembering a great prophet!

I just wanted to take a moment and remember what a great prophet we have had in our lives and boy will he be missed!! Although I am very saddened about him passing from this earth, I am overjoyed that he is with our Father in Heaven and also with his eternal companion Marjorie Hinkley. I will surely miss his sense of humor and his witty personality. I am so proud to have been in his presence a few times and one of those times was in a cane's length away from him. What love he had for Latter day Saints and others all around the world. What a great legacy he leaves behind and how many lives he has touched is endless!
I love so many things Pres. Hinkley has said over the years but I think that this one has helped a lot of people including myself.

“This is my prayer for all of us—'Lord, increase our faith.' Increase our faith to bridge the chasms of uncertainty and doubt. . . . Grant us faith to look beyond the problems of the moment to the miracles of the future. . . . Give us faith to do what is right and let the consequence follow.” ( “Lord, Increase Our Faith,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 52–53.)

I especially love the part about granting us faith to look beyond the problems of the moment and look to the miracles of the future. Such a strong but simple statement. How that statement from our prophet has gotten me past such hard times in my life and will continue to stay with me for times to come.

Another thing he said that I love but can't remember the exact quote but he said, " You don't look like much, but your all the Lord has."
This is what I loved so much. His humor! Such wit! I enjoyed it immensely.

I am grateful that we had such an amazing prophet and I will miss him dearly!

Found Happiness!

Ok so I stole this idea from my friend Camie's blog. Thanks Camie! You are so very creative! Every once in awhile she posts and names things she finds happiness in that day or moment in time. I think it is great so here is my........

FOUND HAPPINESS
01-My kids waking up in the morning, crawling in bed with me, and we have a chill' morning full of snuggles, kisses, and cartoons.
02-Cambree's constant hugs and kisses. I love em!
03-Ethan saying "You r sooo pretty mommy" (could you just melt)
04-My new found love for the Indigo Girls.
05-Snow! Yes I love the snow. If it's going to be cold...there better be snow!(I don't even mind shoveling it.)
06-A new year! I love to welcome in a new year. A time for new goals and moments to look forward to

Going Sledding!!

While we were in Idaho we went sledding with Aunt Brandi and Kayden, and Brandi's in laws who have become great friends, Mike and Karen, Heather and Cliff and their two kids Taylor and Hailey. We had so much fun!! Cambree loved it at first. She giggled as we went down. But after awhile she got cold and just wanted to be held. Ethan absolutely loved sledding and didn't want to leave. He still asks me every day if we can go sledding again. Kayden liked it at first too but after awhile he would scream for his daddy all the way down the hill. Then when he was off the tube he would run around and play with the other kids. He was quite fun to watch. And such a stickler with his smiles! It was fun to see Mike and Karen and Heather and Cliff! All the kids played together and had lot's of fun!! Thanks for letting us come! Afterward Karen had hot chocolate and donuts that were so yummy! Thanks Karen!
We had a blast and we can't wait to go sledding again! Especially Ethan!!

Rexbug Temple Open House!

Todd and I, while in Idaho, got to go see the new Rexburg Temple!! It was an amazing experience! I grew up in Sugar City which is right outside of Rexburg so to see a temple be built in Rexburg is a great blessing. My dad watched the kids so Todd and I could go and enjoy the experience without chasing kids and making sure they don't touch anything. Thanks dad it was great!

To feel the spirit there and to be there with my eternal companion was so amazing. We stood in the celestial room for a moment and to sit there holding hands with Todd I had the opportunity to reflect on my many blessings! My husband of course is my biggest blessing! He is a wonderful man and a loving husband and father. I am glad we are together forever. My children are my other blessings! They both are miracles to be here and I am blessed to have them in my life. I am glad they are sealed to their dad and I and that we can be a together forever family! I am blessed to have this gospel in our lives.

The new Rexburg temple was beautiful and I am grateful I got to go through it. I hope to visit many more times to come!

Idaho Trip!

So after Christmas we decided to make a trip up to Idaho to see my family up there! We went up on Friday afternoon. Of course Ethan sees all the snow and wants to immediatly get his snow gear out. So first thing after arriving there we got Ethan and Cambree in their snow gear and outside we went. Of course being the budget mother that I am got there snow gear a size bigger so that it would last a couple of years, so they both looked like little marshmallows like Ralph's brother on a "Christmas Story".
It was hilarious to watch Cambree walk around and try to climb the steps. Cambree was quite leary about the whole rolling in the snow thing. She kept walking back and forth on the plowed driveway and then stick her love in the snow bank every little while and got real excited that snow was on her glove. Ethan had no fear, as usual, and jumped right into the snow. He was everwhere. He especially loved picking up a big handful of snow and throwing it up in the air. Todd helped Ethan, Micah, and Chelsea make a snow fort. Ethan would throw little snow balls at Micah and then Micah would pretend it hit him and would fall to the ground in 'pretend' agony. Ethan would laugh with glee thinkin he was all clever and all. Even Grandpa Scott came out and threw a couple snow balls. Ethan squealed with delight when he would get so close to hitting Grandpa with a snow ball. Ethan even turned on his mom. He tried to hit me with a couple of snow balls so I had to hand my camera off to show him who was boss. Unfortunatly I did not have any snow gear on and Ethan beat his mom! I'll get him next time. Everyone had so much fun!
After we went inside we had of course more presents to open!! The kids had fun opening there presents and McKadee loved helping Cambree open hers. (Although I think Cambree wasn't to sure about McKadee helping her.)
Cambree loved having McKadee to play with although neither of them were too fond of sharing. But what one year old is? They had with fun with their dollies and pushed them around in strollers everywhere. Ethan was Micah's little shadow all weekend! Thanks Micah for being Ethan's little buddy! He is still talking about all the fun he had with his friend Micah or sometimes "Mikee" as Ethan pronounces it sometimes.
We went over and played a little WII at Brandi and Jared's. Brandi challenged me to some boxing and I couldn't turn down a challenge. I am still sore from kickin butt at boxing!! Ok...so maybe there was a little more of kickin MY butt but still quite a fun workout. Todd and Jared jammed out with little Guitar Hero! Ethan enjoed going over to Aunt Brandi's house. He of course got spoiled with candy canes and gummy worms. He still has two of them that he is still carrying around the house and putting them in special places so that Cambree doesn't get em. I guess he is saving them for some special reason. Thanks Aunt Brandi for the yummy treats!
We had a lot of fun playing in the snow, going sledding, shopping, visiting the new Rexburg Temple, and going out to eat with Dad & Tami, Brandi & Jared, and little Kayden! Thanks everyone for letting us come and visit! Thanks to Shelby for giving up her room for us to stay in. We hope to see everyone again soon.

Merry Christmas!

We had a geat Christmas!! The kids were spoiled of course but hey it's Christmas!
It started a little early on Saturday with a cousin and brother sister gift exchange with the barton family. It was great fun for all the little cousins open there presetns and play together. We then went to the Buaerle Family Christmas Party which was fun as usual. Good food too!
Of course you probably already read about our eventful Christmas Eve! (if not see below). After Ethan was done tramatizing his mother and we got back from the ER, we went to Mark and Vickies for a nice Christmas Eve Dinner! Which was so nice since it was kinda a rough day. Thansk Mark and Vickie!

We woke up very early and Ethan wanted to go see if Santa came. When he walked out and saw Santa had left him a new two wheeled big boy bike he couldn't contain himself! Cambree was also equally pleased about her new wheels too. They will have fun riding around together! Ethan and Cambree had a blast opening up the rest of their presents together! Ethan always keeping on eye on what Cambree got and Cambree would immediatly grab whatever it was she had unwrapped and held it close to her so that Ethan couldn't get it. It was so funny!

I have been rapidly sewing (for the first time I might add) a quilt for Cambree! I think she likes it which I am glad because I didn't realize how much work goes into making a quilt! I have been cutting and sewing and learning how a sewing machine works. I had a few hiccups but overall I don't think I did too bad. Now that I have my part done, soon we'll have Grandma Barton quilt it for her! (I'll post finished product pics when it's all the way done.) We have also started to redecorate the kids rooms so finished product pics will come later of that as well.

After opening presents we went over to Grandma & Grandpa Barton's house for Vickies most amazing (my most favorite thing) egg sufle!!!I love this stuff! And on top of that theres O.j. Cinimon rolls, orange rolls, and hot chocolate!!This breakfast is heaven on earth! Thanks Vickie!!!I don't know if it could be Christmas without it!
Then of course there were more presents to open and play with.
It was a fun day and it was a joy to see my kids so elated with the spirit of Christmas!! Thank you everyone for the fabulous gifts this year and we hope everyone enjoyed your Christmas and we hope the new year treats you well!

Ooops...Didn't get my Christmas Cards Out!

Ok...so we have had the most eventful and busy Christmas season and I realized that with all the preperations and the shopping and the eventful Christmas Eve (see post below) I didn't get my Christmas cards printed and sent out. So I apoligize to our family and friends for being a great big slacker! Here is a sample of what it looked like.
So a little late but never the less we hope everyone had a great Christmas and we hope the new year brings many great things!!

Christmas Eve Adventure!!

So for all you who know my son Ethan, you know that he is a very curious active little boy!!

Ethan wanted to come with mommy to run some last minute Christmas errands so off we went to the mall. We had finished getting everything I needed when I remembered I had a coupon for Mervyns. So I decided while I'm here I might as well see if there is anything worth picking up. Ethan and I were going down the escalator as I held his hand all the way down. (You see it's a rule to hold our hand while going on the escalator to aviod such accidents!!) So we get to the bottom and he let's go of my hand and we get walking and I look down and Ethan is not next to me so I look back maybe 5 paces and there is Ethan at the bottom of the escalator but something is NOT right. Almost a split second later I hear him screaming and it registers that he is stuck in the escalator. He had stayed at the escalator to "see where it goes Mom" and had followed his hand along the black rubber part and got to the end and it sure enough sucked his hand right in. Unfortunatly the escalator did not shut off and I started panacking and calling out for help. A good samaritan came over and pushed the emergancy shut off and then all sorts of shoppers came over to try and pull his hand out but it was stuck! Meanwhile Ethan is screaming, "It hurts!!!....get me out!!! Mommy get me out!!" And I am full on panacking and screaming and hysterically crying, "Someone help get him out!!!...Call 911!!!So a lady that had been shopping calls 911 and tells them there was a little boy with his hand stuck in the escalator. She than called Todd and told him what was happening and told him he might want to get here fast. The policemen came first and they tried to help and then the firemen and paramedics came to give it a try. They ended up having to take apart a small portion of the escalator to try to get his hand out. Finally after about a 1/2 hour his hand was free. They sent us to the ER to make sure that he didn't have any broken bones. Ethan very much enjoyed taking x-rays and seeing his bones!! The x-ray tech even gave him a copy that he could take home and Ethan thought that was extra cool. So good news is he has no broken bones!! Thank goodness. He had some minor lacerations and 1st & 2nd degree burns on his fingers. Overall he will heal up nicely and already his fingers are looking better. A very emotional and overwhelming day that's for sure!!

And here is the kicker! My coupon to Mervyns had expired! Go figure! And as a cherry on top....Todd's dad was driving Todd to the mall to be there with us and got rear ended by some kid and got his bumper smashed. Sorry Mark! It always has to happen to the nice guy that's trying to drive his son to the mall where his grandson is stuck in the escalator! : )

Getting Ready for Christmas!

So this was a two part series!! We started by bringing all the Christmas boxes upstairs. Ethan so graciously helped unpack all the contents of one box while mom and dad started to unpack the tree. Ethan was so excited about putting a tree inside our house that he got distracted and started helping organize all the color coded branches. Then he helped me string the lights up. He was the official "plugger inner"!! Then being exhausted from all that I sat down and started t watch a show on TV and next thing I know, I look over and Ethan is unpacking the stockings and was putting on his hands and feet. I asked what he was doing and he replied so matter of factly, "Puttin these on mom."

He then decided that it would be a

great hat too!! What an imagination this kid has.

Then he had to try and fit on dad's noggin'!

And then mom had to take a turn too!!

He thought is was so cool.

We then went to bed cuz we were tired. (Now I know why us kids had to beg my parents to put up Christmas stuff..it's a lot of tiring work) It's fun work though!

So the next day Ethan and Cambree started to unpack all the Christmas ornaments and thought this was great fun!

Cambree loved reaching down into the box and pulling out a new ornament. She then would get so mad that Ethan was getting them too. She then got very ticked and tried to gather as many ornaments as she could and sat down and tried to make sure Ethan didn't get any of her ornaments. It was classic!

Then mom being the peace-

maker created a system that made everyone happy. I helped Cambree put the little hanger on the ornament and she would hand it to Ethan and he would put it on the tree.

It worked out but in the end all the ornaments were all on the bottom half of the tree so I helped Ethan put them more evenly around the tree.

We ended up having a great time putting up all our Christmas stuff (with a few minor hiccops) but we have some great memories none the less!