Colors of Fun

Today we made these.  I think they turned out pretty neat.  My kids love to play with playdough, and for a few ingredients from my pantry we came up with these fun balls of color.  I found the recipe on a super fun blog here.  We are learning to make things from home for much cheaper and the kids are really enjoying our adventures together.

Loaves of Lessons

I have been thinking lately about all my blessings.  Mostly because my attitude has been negative and I was trying to be positive.  But I started thinking about my life today while making bread.  Here are some blessing in my life I came up with:

1) I am a mother.  Even though it is the hardest thing I've ever done, I am so thankful that I am blessed with children.  They have taught me so much.
2) I have the knowledge of the gospel.  To many blessings to name!
3) I live in a free country.
4) My husband is blessed with a great job.
5) I get to live my dream of staying home with my children.
6) My family and I are healthy.

These are just a few that mean a lot to me.  I have been talking with one of my friends on the phone a lot lately, which I love, she is so much fun!  She had to work for a time while raising her small children.  To listen to her now, and the joy and excited she has in her voice from the everyday things she is able to do with her children at home since she no longer needs to works makes me happy.  It reminded me of all I have.  It helped me remember what all I am grateful for and it was a good reminder to me to make sure I was enjoying those moment myself.  I love that I can make bread from scratch, hang my clothes on my clothesline, use clothes diapers, read with my babies, sew projects, and anything else I love to do.  Staying home is such a blessing.  I have seen a lot of women have to go to work lately because of financial reasons, not by choice.  It is hard, and they are strong women and good mothers.   I am grateful it hasn't been me. 

I decided a couple weeks ago that it was time for some changes around here.  We have been living life a little too freely with our finances and entertainment.  So Jeremy and I talked and decided that it was time to turn off the cable, cut down on our cell phones, make some grocery shopping changes, and start using what we have.  Not rush out to by something that's broken.  But we have been fixing things.  I started thinking about how much we consume.  How disposable things are these days to us.  Clothes, toys, food, ect.  I want my children to be frugal and learn to take care of their finances.  We have not been shopping for the past two weeks for anything.  We are using the food in our fridge(we had a ton) and using what is already on our shelves.  We have decided to use a cash budget for household, groceries, and gas. I pay all our bills online.  This has been a REAL eye opener to me.  Plus it really makes me think about if it is a NEED or a WANT.  I have to say that the last two weeks I have been less stressed and feel more free to live.  My house is quieter from no t.v., and thanks to my friend helping me see the light, I no longer take my cell phone everywhere with me.  Just leaving my phone at home unless we are going out of town lessens my stress.  I can't explain it.  Try it, you'll see.  I think we really needed an electronic detox and re prioritize.

You will really feel a sense of peace and fulfillment making things from home and with your own hands.  Being on a budget really brings peace like nothing else.  All these things we learn in the church, but we think we are fine and they must be for other people.  I don't do well with stress and I stress very easily.  I am learning to enjoy simple things in my life and really enjoy my family.  Less Stuff= More Life! That is my motto!  No matter if it is clothes, shoes, entertainment, TV, cell phones, or what.  Stuff clutters our lives and takes over!

What are you doing to help save money, relieve stress, or

find more peace?? I would love ideas!

when was the last time.....

you had your family pictures taken???  We had not had any done since Savanna was very small so we decided it was time.  They all turned out amazing!  We had a lot of fun and Tiffany Woods with Simply Photography did an amazing Job.  She is very affordable and her pictures are a delight! Check out her blog and book a session. 

You'll want some pictures for all your upcoming Christmas Cards!

Friends

A couple weekends ago we have some of our most favorite friends over to play for the weekend.  And that is just what we did.  The guys went out and shot stuff, us girls went to the temple  and a little shopping at Walmart, the kids played in the water, dads and kids picked pears, we ate a bunch of food,  & stayed up till almost midnight laughing till our cheeks hurt.  It was so much fun and really relaxing to just visit and play. 

{Thanks Winslow & Melissa for a fabulous weekend!}

A Time Out

Jeremy and I decided we needed a time out.  So we farmed out all the kids but Graham, had Friday night to ourselves, and went up Graham Mountain Saturday for the day.  It was the best weekend ever!  We got some of our favorite food to take, and just relaxed.  I took tons of pictures.  I had had a crazy couple weeks and needed to relax and clear my head.  How grateful I am for a beautiful mountain so close to enjoy!  This trip was a reminder to me how much I love Jeremy and the fun we have together.  Once you get so many kids in the mix it is easy to forget such things and get wrapped up in all the needs of the children.  We decided we will have to do this at least every 3 months!

Soccer

Today was our first try at soccer.  They had a clinic to see how everyone played and then chose teams.  Jeremy and I got roped in to helping coach.  We don't even know the rules!  The kids love it, we all got sunburned, and I was exhausted when we got home.  Then Jeremy, his dad, and I went up to the temple and took family names and did some baptisms.  I was like 13 the last time I've done any.  It was such a wonderful experience.  Jeremy's dad did the baptizing.  It is so neat having family names to take.  Got home and Jeremy went out scouting and my mom and I visited for a while.  I am fighting a cold and have been so tired lately.  So tonight my house is a disaster, we ate frozen burritos(from my emergency freezer food) for dinner, I can barely move I am so tired, and I look at Fisher and he has gotten into the diaper cream and has it all over his face.  That was went I gave up and decided to watch a movie! I can only do so much in one day.  I am learning to relax and not get so uptight.  Having my kids in soccer is VERY out of my comfort zone.  The idea overwhelms me.  But I am getting better at all this stuff.  We'll see how I survive the season!