More Pictures of my Kids

Here are a few more pictures I took of my kids. They are both sick right now, and were as grumpy as can be, but all in all the pictures turned out pretty ok.

This one I think is just fun. He discovered he has pockets in his suit coat.
Here is one of the two of them together, and both smiling. :)
Ellie loves this picture of herself, and wants to send it to Skyler. (haha)

Our little heart breaker. :)

New Pictures of my Kids

I took some pictures of my kids last night, and will attempt the process again today in search of the perfect picture to send out with our Christmas Letter. Anyway, here is a few from my first attempt.

Another Page

Here is another page. These pictures are from last year when Ellie made a snow angel on our front sidewalk.

I've been TAGGED!!

Hi everyone. I have been tagged by Courtney, which I guess means I am supposed to tell six quirky things about myself, that you may or may not know about me, and then pass the buck to four of you to in turn tell six quirky things about yourself. So here goes, my six quirks.

1* I like to eat malt-o-meal cereal plain with nothing on it. (not even milk)

2* I love the smell of Aspen Cologne, and Extra green spearmint gum, together. The mixed smell gives me a natural high.

3* I lock my doors anytime I am home, (even if Ray is home) and, I check my doors 3 or 4 times to make sure they are locked before going to sleep at night.

4* I count things out, like shampoo and conditioner get 5 counts each. Laundry Soap, gets 10 counts. Dish Soap gets 2 counts. When doing my hair, I have to pump 4 times anytime I hold the hairspray bottle.

5* When logging onto MSN, I have to log on and then log off and then log on again before checking my e-mail.

6* I brush my teeth twice before going to bed at night.

K, there you have it, my 6 quirks. Now it's time to pass it on.
So, I am tagging Rachel, Kasey, Shelise, and Terra. Love ya!!

I am thankful for a good running vehicle.

Yesterday evening I went to Wal Mart with my kids to do some grocery shopping. This means about a 20 minute drive. While on our way home from shopping at about 8:30 p.m. it had started to sprinkle a bit and was very very cold outside with a bit of a cold wind. Anyway, as we were driving I noticed a car up ahead with hazards on. The hood was up and so I slowed down just to make sure that it wasn't anyone from my ward. I noticed that it was a young mother with little kids. How scared she must have been. She was speaking on a cell phone, and motioned for me to keep going, while mouthing a thank you though. As I sped up on the freeway I said a silent prayer thanking my Heavenly Father for a good running vehicle, and a well working heater inside. So this is my thankful today. I am thankful for a good running vehicle.

Busted

Let me start off by saying that I thought both of my kids were sound asleep in bed and all was good. Well, I was wrong. Very, very wrong. Now for the story. I was in my kitchen loading the dishwasher and listening to Christmas music on the radio, when I thought I heard a soft giggle from upstairs. I quietly walked upstairs, checked on a sleeping Ellie, and then heard the giggle again and went in to check on Jake and found him coloring himself with an Orange marker. I told him it was very naughty, made him spend a few minutes in time out, and then quickly got a few pictures of him before putting his orange body in the tub. ( I was very tempted to swat his little bottom, but how can you get really mad at your son when he says to you right off, (look momma I draw a pretty picture for you to have) ? Anyway, here is his masterpiece. :) Let me add that I did not take pictures of the area he colored the most of and that was his belly and he even got a bit lower, he even managed to get his back side quite good too. THE STINKER

Jake's Hair Cut

I got tired of seeing Jake's hair get longer and longer. It was almost in his eyes, and had grown down over his ears. I was going to wait until I went south and let Brandi cut it, because he is always so wiggly, and cries when it gets icky (itchy). But, I decided to buck up and do it myself. And, might I say it turned out pretty decent.

It worked Finally..

I finally figured out how to personalize my template. I have tried a handful of times to get it to work, always doing something wrong which made it a no show. But, today I gave it one last try and it worked. I don't know that I will leave it this way, but for now this is how it will stay.

Another Page ~

I think I've finally got the hang of this digiscrap stuff, and now I may become addicted. There is something wrong with this page. Does anyone care to make a suggestion on how to make it look better? I'm open to suggestions always.

This is my first DIGISCRAP page.

Taralee gave me some great coaching on my Adobe, and this is what I have come up with on my first digiscrap page. Any pointers on how to make it better?

The Cutest Greats in the World...

I was talking to Ellie the other day how we have big cousins and little cousins and big cousins who have had little cousins, who she can call her cousins. Anyway, she eventually got it. (I was very happy). So she later came to me and asked if we could put all our greats on our blog so everyone could see just how lucky we are to have the cutest dang greats in the whole world wide (HER WORDS) So, here is our page with the worlds cutest greats.

Names in order are --- Alex, Avery, Monique, Brynley, Jackson, Lexi, Xander, and Brooklyn.

(Some of the pictures are on not real recent, but that is not my fault. We can blame their parents for that...) haha

Ellie says she hopes your not jealous that her greats are the cutest. ha ha ha :)

Saturday Road Trip to Idaho

Ray and I woke up Saturday morning and decided since it was is first actual weekend off, and we had nothing really to do we would go to Idaho. We hadn't seen his mom since my nephews weddings in August, and the kids missed her. We had a good time and were back home by midnight, and able to sleep in our own comfy beds. I just love the spur of the moment trips.
Here is a picture of the kids with Grandma Westfall, and her pups Hoppy and Rowdy. I guess we need to go see our Grandparents more often, cause Jake gets so excited to see them and he just says over and over again, grandma, grandma, grandma. Grandma says what and he'll say hi, and then it's just right back to saying grandma over and over again. I think he just likes to say the name and have her their to respond.
Jake and Hoppy. Any guess on why the dogs have the names they have? :)
Here is Ellie with Rowdy. I don't know who was more happy to see who, the dogs or the kids. They were all really hyper and active, but soon they settled down and were willing to just lay on the couch next to each other.



This one is the kids standing in front of the very beautiful but not yet finished Twin Falls Temple. I think Temple is a very pretty one, and may become one of my favorites.

Jake, Ellie, & Xander

We went to Idaho on Saturday to visit Rays' mom and decided to stop by and visit our niece Rahael, and meet her new baby. (She had him on Rays birthday). She named him Steven Xander, but they call him Xander. Both Ellie and Jake really enjoyed the few minutes each that they got to hold him, and he didn't seem to mind until Jake snuck in a kiss and then he started to cry. :) Anyway, here are a few pictures from our visit with Racheal.

30 Days of Thankfulness

I have been talking with Ellie about things we should be, and are thankful for. So with that I decided to list one thing I am thankful for each day, and then I will post it to the side under my 30 days of thankfulness file. I am hoping that this will help her to better understand how very grateful I am for everything in my life, the big and the small. And since she is learning to read, I can help her read them on our computer. So with that, I begin day one of my thankfuls.

30~ I am thankful for all that I have been given in my life.
29~ I am thankful for the wonderful Christmas lights that adorn our street so soon this Holiday Season.
28~ I am thankful for my talents.
27~ I am thankful that tonight is Rays last night on, and then he is off for 7 days straight. I love the time we get to spend with eachother.
26~ I am thankful for my thyroid medication. Without it, I become someone my family does not care to be around. haha
25~ I am thankful that Jake and Ellie are finally acting like they feel a little bit better. A solid week of being sick and grumpy, along with a husband who is now sick, makes for one crazy momma... :/
24~ I am thankful for Skyler and Porter, and the good examples they are to my children.
23~ I am thankful for warm socks. (my toes have been freezing lately)
22~ I am thankful for Childrens Benedryl Allergy relief medicane. (we discovered yesterday that jake is allergic to something in pecan pie).
21~ I am thankful that I am almost done redoing my bathroom. The new paint, and shower curtain, have given it a new happy look.
20~ I am thankful for my Freedom.
19~ I am thankful for sisters, who also make good friends.
18~ I am thankful for the memories I have of a loving Grandpa. ( I sure do miss his hugs, and kisses)
17~ I am thankful for a good running vehicle.
16~ I am thankful for my wonderful nieces and nephews, and the great people they are.
15~ After last night, I am thankful for Crayolas washable markers, and the fact that they wash off so nicely... ;)
14~ I am thankful for my CARMEX lip salve, and how quickly it helps my dry, chapped lips.
13~ I am thankful for the good friends I have made in my life.
12~ I am thankful for my cell phone which keeps me connected to Ray anytime of the day, or night. :)
11~ I am thankful for my Primary Calling.
10~ I am thankful for the Christmas Music I get to start listening to. I love it, love it, love it... :)
9~ I am thankful for cooler autumn days, and the crisp air it brings.
8~ I am thankful for Ellie's friends, and the good examples they are to her.
7~ I am thankful for our extended family, and the support they are always so willing to give. Through rain or shine our family has been there. I love them for all they do for us.
6~ I am thankful for my home, and the shelter it provides.
5~ The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the knowledge I have of a loving Father in Heaven.
4~ My rocking chair. Without it, the sleepless nights my kids have when they are sick would seem endless.
3~ I am thankful for both my digital camera, and my camcorder. Without them I wouldn't be able to capture every moment of my kids' lives.
2~ I am thankul for Ellie & Jake, they make my everyday a good day.
1~ I am thankful for a wonderful husand who loves his family so much, and takes such good care of us.