Happy Valentine's Day!

Funny how as the years go by some "holidays" just aren't a big deal anymore. I remember that I used to love this day, now it's just really no big deal. Yesterday and this morning the kids have been making "Valentine's" for everyone - we're doing it old school - we bought nothing - I've just been cutting up construction paper and they have been decorating them. I do want to teach my kids that you don;t have to buy things for every occasion - things are even more special when they are handmade! At least I think so! And with JT being unemployed still, it really works! Speaking of JT - he has had his background check and is filling out all the paper work to reapply for his Contractor's License. He had his license back when we first met and then let it go after working for American Asphalt for so long. I think he's really excited about doing his own thing again and he is so talented! He even did some plumbing yesterday on a bathroom remodel he's doing. He can do anything!

So - our day so far:

Our little bit of snow left this morning....

Awww...so sweet!

Our goofy kids!

Have a blessed day with the ones you love!!!

and...I can't forget...Happy 2nd Birthday Sweet Madeline!

Please don't start using the potty!

Yes, I really feel this way! Pretty funny, huh? Mackenzie was a little past 3 when she decided she was done with diapers, Brandon was just about 2, I am just not ready for Jonas to be done. Don't worry now, he hasn't shown interest...except he does occassionally go sit on the little potty chair - I just don't encourage it! I was really sad when Mackenzie was done and I had to get rid of all our girly "fluff".

I'm sure if I used disposable diapers I'd feel different but, if you know me at all, you know how much I love cloth diapering and how much I love the diapers themselves!

If I could find a job being a spokesperson for the cloth world, I would do it in a heartbeat and if I could sew anything more than straight lines, I would have a very profitable business! Hmmm....maybe one day I'll try! There are plenty of WAHMs out there making a small fortune on the cute squishy diapers that they do make! Maybe some day it'll be me!

Here is my favorite diaper mama:

Shannon of Green Acre Designs - so sweet, from California & I consider her a friend. She has the best customer service & makes cute, quality diapers! I use her pocket diapers and have a couple AIOs on the way! They are great for going out in!
http://www.greenacredesigns.com/

I have used some other kinds in the past - which I won't name, as I don't want to do any free advertising for them.

I also love fitted diapers - great for home - but the type that need covers or those cute wool pants!

I love:
http://hyenacart.com/withlove/

and have some new ones on the way from:
http://hyenacart.com/domesticmiracles/

and from Banyan Tree Diapers (she doesn't have her own site yet though) - she's making me some with my own fabric & am so excited!

I tend to buy diapers, use them for a while & then sell them for a little less than I bought them for and then I turn around and buy brand new ones & do it all again! Pretty silly, huh? I guess I get bored easily - plus the cost doesn;t go down much when they are just gently used.
So...that's what's on my mind today...my love for diapers!!!

Thank you notes.....

I was raised where we HAD to write thank you notes and have always done them.....that is until Jonas came along. I just have such a hard time fitting everything in, in a day. The bad part is, I feel guilty for not doing them. I've talked to friends about this and they say that although they think they are nice to get, they are not necessary - that people are supposed to give without expecting anything in return. I do agree with that, yet still find the guilt creeping in.

So - what can I say - I have not written a thank you note since last year sometime. Funny how family traditions that you have been taught can mess with your mind so much.

I do want to teach my kids to be thankful for the things they receive, to show appreciation and to let someone know they received the gift (if it was not open in person) but I am not going to demand they write one - especially with the always growing price of postage!

Anyone want to chime in on thoughts on this one? Comments welcomed!

Passing out....

right in the middle of the floor! Have you ever felt like doing this? I sure have! Poor Jonas did yesterday and stayed put for about 4 hours - his 2 year molars are really being mean! I went to take out the garbage yesterday & while walking down the hall, this is what I found.....



I posted this on Facebook yesterday and the even funnier thing is that I got a few emails asking what he was wearing! Ha!!! So...I guess I'll fill you all in - those that don't know me as well as some. I have a pretty "green" side to me....some call it "crunchy" or "earth friendly". My little ones have both worn cloth diapers - I even use cloth wipes. Those pants that Jonas is wearing are recycled wool - yes, his cute little footie pants used to be a sweater. They now have suede bottomed feet, cute fabric on the top of the feet, encased elastic at the ankles and waist and I wash them in woolie wash (a special homemade solution containing lanolin) which makes them yummy smelling and they are kind of waterproof so they work as a diaper cover. Jonas has about 5 pairs of these and has matching shirts for them all - he is quite stylish!

More about my "crunchy" side....I use a lot of homemade items, including laundry soap, disinfectants, all purpose cleaners, lotion, body soap & more! I buy as much as I can from other stay at home moms who work (also known as WAHMs) rather than supporting all the large businesses and overseas markets. And..I must say, WAHM made stuff is so much nicer than store bought items filled with a ton of chemicals - and made with no love!

Ooo - and Facebook - I deactivated my account today. I already have (in no particular order) other sites that are more important to me, this blog, my "business", 2 little ones, a husband, a house, bible study, a small part time job, etc - the last thing I need is to put more on my plate or something to keep me strapped to this chair longer than I already do. Speaking of which...the kids are about done eating their lunch and it is nap time...so off I go!

Wishing you all a day filled with God's blessings - look around - they are everywhere!♥
<----yes, this is a cloth diaper! Ha!!!

No matter what....

I just love being a mommy.

It's that simple and I am so grateful for Mackenzie and Jonas. I love everything about being their Mommy, yes, I do have days when I jsut want to stay in bed and do nothing BUT I have to say they are few & far between. Jonas is teething horribly - I hate to see him in so much pain and so miserable - BUT I love that he has woken up at 10pm the past 3 night and has cuddles with me in the family room until I go to bed (and yes, I bring him with me). he is now sitting on my lap, whining, trying to push in the keyboard, so say goodbye to capital letters! mackenzie is just so sweet (most of the time) and her spirit puts such a huge smile in my heart. i know these days will pass quicky and i am savoring every moment of my kids being small.

i'm not leaving out brandon, my first born, i love being his mom too and he is precious to me. i will say that there has been a lot of pain in being his mom and i know i made a lot of mistakes in raising him. i am sad watching him grow up and making the same mistakes over and over expecting a different outcome - isn't that the definition of insanity? i pray for him daily. i am here when he wants to talk - although i have to admit, sometimes listening to his latest choices or drama is sometimes a chore for me. i know that he is building an incredible testimony that can be used in so many ways...i pray he turns around soon...and looks up...and can see what a life with Christ at the center can offer.

i pray that the differences in who i am reflect mackenzie and jonas and that they don't choose to go down the same road as brandon.

i pray that today and everyday i learn and grow and be the best mommy i can be.

not from today - just had to post their smiling faces!

7th anniversary, snow and teething....

Today is our 7th anniversary, it's snowing and Jonas is teething! Can it get much better than that! I can honestly say I am grateful for them all - yep, even the teething!

We're staying in and going to have a nice quiet evening at home....ha...if Jonas lets us! The boy is teething like crazy and the 2 year molars are giving him a very hard time.....fussy, high temp, you name it!

Anyways, we're going to order take out from either Johnny Carino's or Olive Garden (the two places we have gift cards for) and are going to watch Fireproof after the kids are in bed.

Amazing to think it's been 7 years...only 7 and already 7. We met almost 15 years ago and any one who knows us, knows just how different we were back then and even when we got married. We have both come so far and I am so grateful for the marriage that we have and that we have a loving God to thank for it all!

7 years ago today:

* added 2/10 (after opening)

this had to be the most fun gift to make for J.T.

and he said it meant more to him than anything

I could've bought! ♥

the box:

inside:
100 strips of paper folded up with things

that I love about him! ♥

Friday....

The weather here is crazy - the high desert that averages 3" of rainfall a year has been getting pounded. I just got back from helping on Extreme Makeover Home Edition and it is nothing but mud, wind, rain.....I was taping and painting on the Learning Center there and was freezing. I decided to put the paint brush down & just tape and am so glad....others were having their trays blown out of their hands - full of paint - black paint - that ended up all over the light colored stucco. Oh, what a mess! Glad to be home thawing out and that I had the opportunity to be a small part of this huge project!

Here's the building I worked on - the learning center:


Our friend Joe from Vivid Water Gardens building a
water feature behind the learning center

Paige - I personally love her pink bags & hat!

Update: there was supposed to be a benefit concery by Billy Ray Cyrus tonight to raise money for the animals - the venue was moved to due to the weather and then the lodge where the concert was going to happen had a fire just minutes before he took the stage. Rumors are that some fo the weeks tapes were in a backpack in the fire and that Miley was going to be a surprise guest...wonder if we'll ever know......

5 years sober!

Today is such a great day! J.T. is celebrating 5 years sober!

Tonight I had a surprise party for him - we had a packed house, lots of friends & yummy food!

It was tough getting him out of the house & keeping him away but we did it - thank you George for your help, the "talk" and the prayer! I can talk anyone's ear off but when it comes to "public speaking" and saying what I really want to say, I struggle. George said it all perfectly! Yes, we aer thankful that J.T. has been sober for 5 years but what we are really celebrating is Christand his love, grace & mercy!

His yummy cake made by Mary

(see her peeking in from the back!)






"Daddy's 5...but I'm 2!"

So much to be grateful for.....

tomorrow J.T. will be celebrating 5 years sober and I am throwing a HUGE surprise party for him! As it stands now, about 50 people will be in our home tomorrow night to celebrate. I'm a little emotional today about it all and reflecting back on the last 5 years is amazing! We have BOTH come so far!

5 years ago...it was just J.T. Brandon & me. We now have filled our home with two more beautiful children and, as always, God had his perfect timing! I can't even count all of the ways about us , or the things in our life that have changed - we have truly been reborn!

Okay..before I start crying I'm signing off to get ready to go work at church tonight!

PS - yes, J.T. is still working out at EHM...

That's not what I meant......

Ha!!! I told JT to do some major sucking up while working on Extreme Makeover, thinking that since he's unemployed maybe he could get in with someone, especially the company from Newport Beach - ya, I could live at the beach! Well.....yesterday he worked total of 20 hours out there! He got home about 1:30 this morning and here it is almost 1 in the afternoon and he's on his way back out there. The whole thing is like a challenge to him - to see how much he can get done, plus he looks at it as a way of titheing. He said there's a lot of cussing going on, the "designers" of the show actually do nothing (except for a few camera shots) and they are way behind schedule. A cement truck was told to shut off beacause Ty was in the middle of a scene - so funny that they're behind and that's not the main focus, but hey, it's Hollywood for ya! Ooo - and speaking of Hollywood - they actually have massage tables & a "salon" set up outside in the middle of the desert! Ha!
Here's some pics of the yesterday - he was there from before the sun rose until after sun down....
The family is getting a house, a learning center & some new facilities for the animals. Our friend Joe who owns a pond & fish store is working with a guy from Disney who creates water features - can't wait to see what they are doing!

This is a learning center (before sunrise):


Big ol crane thingy (techinical term) at sunrise:


The "design" team:
Ty




Look - it's Paulie!!!!


Michael & Paige - JT has always loved making
fun of her pink bags!



I think this guy's name is Ed...


Okay - funny stuff - the massage tables:


Salon: (see the black chairs on the other side of the fence)


Sundown - not sure, but I think this is the house...


Or maybe the learning center - I don't know!

Extreme Makeover - Home Edition

J.T. left home
this morning
at 5am to
volunteer on
the construction
of a new home
& more for a
family in the area - click here: http://www.schomesbuilder.com/pages/extreme_family.htm
to meet the family and get more info! I'll be back with pics!

Jonas, Handy Manny & his tools!

The day of the
party to celebrate
the little man
turning two!
He loves all
things boy: tools,
cars, dinosaurs...
you name it!


a little
help from
daddy


the first
bite of his
yummy
strawberry
cake with
real banana
filling made
by our good
friend Mary...


he
loves
his
tools...

Our little man is 2!

I can't believe how fast two years have gone and that my baby is two! I'm savoring every minute and although he is a toddler - he's still completely my baby!




Big sister
Mackenzie
finishing
up
the
decorating
of the
cupcakes...




Here he is
enjoying
his cupcake
on his
birthday!