4th of JULY!

We started off at the Kaysville parade, what other parade could there be? I love going to it every year and watching all the people show up with their water gear. We had fun and then we went to Layton Park and had lunch and walked around. Later that afternoon we went to my parent's for the BBQ and fireworks. We had so much fun. The fourth is really one of my top two holidays. I love the atmosphere and I love that for one day everyone really appreciates the sacrifices of the soldiers and veterans. I got a little carried away with the camera, but I will try to limit the number I put on here.

First things first Parade pics:






BBQ pics next:

Disneyland

We had a good time at Disneyland. The kids absolutely loved it! I totally forgot that I hadn't done a post on it yet. So here are some pics.

Help Wanted!!

So remember that adorable dollhouse that I bought for Enza for her birthday? Oh well the help wanted is because there are a million pieces and I have two glued together. I can't figure out where piece 3 fits. I usually can handle anything crafty, but alas I have been majorly stumped. Just a little vent here, because although there have been fleeting thoughts missing the man around here. This is truly the first time that it actually is a need. I need a leftminded man to help me make logical sense of these building plans. So if any of you ladies out there want to come join me for a GNO to build a 3 1/2 foot tall dollhouse please let me know. I will provide plenty of caffiene and treats. HHHHHEEEEELLLLPPPP!!!!!

New Pictures

These are the headbands for my friend's cute little girlie.

Here is one of the skirts for another friend.

The next few are from Cruze's Preschool Graduation. He was so cute. He knew every word of every song. You could tell by the weird look on his face in some of these that he was embarassed to be up in front of everyone. I loved watching him sing the songs that I had been hearing for months.


These last two are my cute kiddos in their Easter clothes. They just make my heart melt. I am the luckiest mom in the world. Don't ask me what Gauge is doing with his left hand in one of them, I couldn't tell you.


So some of these aren't so new because they are from Easter but hey my SD Port has been broken so I couldn't import my pictures.

SMU - Single Mom Update

So what is new around here? Well I am looking for a house to buy. When I had looked around, renting a 3 bedroom anything was around $1000-$1400. So I decided that it would be a lot smarter to buy instead. My budget is meager to say the least, but if I can find something in my price range I will only have a mortgage of $600-$700, because the rates are so low. I am really excited and so are the kiddos.
What else is new? I am cleaning people's houses for extra money, not my favorite but I really appreciate the opportunity to earn extra $.
I have some projects that I am working on one being a huge ridiculous dollhouse that I found for $35 for Enza for her birthday. It will not be done in time because there are around 3000 pieces. Clearly in over my head on that one. I have also been making some headbands for a friend's baby. I have another friend who has asked me to help her paint her bedroom furniture. All of these things are great as I am such a project person. It is a major stress relief for me. Thanks guys!

**The best part of all of this is that although I have my really hard-don't-want-to-get-out-of-bed-days. There are days that I still wake up, glue on my smile and tune up my laugh, but there are fewer of those days now then at the beginning. I AM GOOD!!! I feel better and better about life all the time and have really found my strength. I am absolutely amazed at my courage, strength, and optimism. Apparently I am lacking my humility but hopefully I will get it back soon. I never thought I could handle anything like this. When my sister was going through her divorce I secretly thought I was glad it was her and not me, because I wasn't as strong as her. I guess when you are faced with crappy, then you figure out you can sink or swim and I choose to SWIM. How amazing to have so many people come out of the woodwork that "Have my Back". It has been such a blessing and help for me. Heavenly Father has shown me in so many ways that he thinks I am worth it. And after a lot of prayer I feel that I am too.
So here is a Toast to New Beginnings! Cheers!

Update

SO here is an update on the general stuff:
We had Cruze's kindergarten orientation. He is so excited to go to the big school, me I am torn. It is fun for me to see him so excited about going, but I am scared of what he will learn and also the fact that he is growing up way too fast. He is so funny and is starting to be able to read words while he sounds them out. He is signed up for soccer again and we will see if he will actually play this season because last fall he wouldn't play at all. He is quickly becoming a little man, and making his momma proud. Cruze's smile and beautiful blue eyes are so catchy.

Gauge is getting so tall so fast. I think he will pass Cruze by before too long, how hard for Cruze. He is tough as nails too. He loves tv and would sit there all day if I would let him, but he is also very smart and creative. He is a deep thinker and the things that he puts together shock me. He is athletic and talks so well. He is goofy and funny most of the time. His eyelashes and dimples are so charming.

Enza is so talkative. I have heard that girls generally are, but it is so funny because it is nonstop and rarely do I understand what she wants. She is sassy but funny, and definately my snuggler which I love. She is definately not a baby anymore, and she reminds me of that everyday. It is sad to have your baby grow up so fast. She is very underweight but her loud screams and personality make up for it. Oh yeah, we are finally able to start letting her hair grow back. I can't wait for her cute hair to come back. The curls are gone with the buzz cut, and her hair is already thicker than it was before which is good. I love having a daughter!

I am camp director and secretary in the R.S. I love being able to serve and learn from the women I serve with. I am hoping to open a business refinishing and antiquing furniture, which is really one of my passions. I am also thinking of starting an etsy store. There are a lot of things that I have had people tell me to sell on etsy, so I am thinking that may not be a bad idea either. Bon Jovi was so much fun, I didn't think I could love it more than the last time, but I did. It was the absolute best concert I have ever been to, the seats were amazing. This last week I had to go to the dr.s because I thought I had a blood clot. I turns out that I do and that is goes from my calf to my groin. I have been on bedrest and it is killing me. I hate being down. I have had a ton of people who have been around to help make this easier. To all of you, THANKS so much I have really felt loved and appreciated.

My mom had surgery last Tuesday because they did a scan before they started her radiation and found that she had some tumors that had grown and were cancerous. The surgery went well, it will be a long recovery but at least it is over. They said that they feel like it went well and that they got everything. They will still do radiation after she has healed and get anything that they missed. We are praying that this is the last of the surgeries and that she can have radiation and be done with this. She has been through so much in the last almost year. I love you momma, hang in there.

Cruze Birthday

Cruze turned 5 on the 6th, which was the Superbowl. I wanted Cruze to be able to have his birthday not be forgotten because of the game. So we just told him his birthday was on Saturday, because that is when we celebrated it. I cannot believe that he is already 5 and this year he will be going into kindergarten. I am so happy, but really sad at the same time. For his birthday we decided to combine with the other 3 of us that have birthdays all within about a week of eachother. So we went to Boondock's and opened presents, ate cake and ice cream, and then we let the little kiddos bowl for a while. Then Cruze wanted to go get pizza for dinner so we went to Pizza Factory and loved it. That is one of my favorite pizza restaurants. We love you Cruze, and we are so glad that you are your very special personality are in our home. You keep us on our toes, but you equally keep us laughing. We gave him a bike, and a semi-trailer that stores his matchbox cars. He also got leapster games, rc car, disc shooter, some adorable chaps and a couple other toys. Thank you to everyone who gave him gifts and participated in us celebrating his day.

Cruze's Cake made with the help of my friend.

Cruze and Preslie with their cakes. It was also Tanelle and my birthdays. IT was a fun night.

Here are some Christmas Pics

I need to get these on here, so I can move on through December and get to Februaruy where we currently are getting more and more behind. Here is goes,

Gaugey opening his new toothbrush. I know it sounds boring, but her really wanted an electric toothbrush so that is what Santa brought him.

Enza was so confused about her new doll having a pacifier. She kept trying to put it in her own mouth for days.

Ethan opening his PJ pants that I made. I loved the fleece and knew he would too.

Cruze's cute surprise face. He loved opening the gifts.
Enza trying to pur on her PJ pants. She clearly had no idea how, but I loved this picture of her attempts.

This is the best picture I got of all of them Christmas eve after opening their pjs. The ones where all three were smiling, were blurry of course. Anyways here they are.

Christmas Eve FHE

On Christmas Eve we all normally go over to my parents house and reenact the nativity. This year my mom was supposed to have Chemo on the 23rd, so she decided to have it on the Monday before. We had a nice night my mom got Olive Garden takeout, soup, salad and breadsticks, and I offered to make dessert. We did a chocolate fondue, and a cream cheese chocolate chip dip. It was so much fun and it really makes you think about the different perspectives of the people who are a part of the nativity. Thanks mom and dad for the nice night.

The rest of December!

We were invited to Pace Mannion's house for the Land Rover 4th quarter event. In case you don't know who Pace Mannion is, he was a professional basketball player,and then he was one of the announcers for the Jazz. His wife is a professional Chef and is from Italy. So she makes the real italian food. It is so simple but so yummy. She put on a cooking demo for us, and I learned a few tricks that I didn't know before that night. We had such a great time and really appreciated being invited, because there were only 10 couples there. Now for those of you that know my husband probably know that yes Ethan did ask Pace to let him give him a quote and Pace said yes. Hopefully he is competitively priced and he can get the account. They talked for quite a while and even went out and drove Pace's new Range Rover. The picture we got was not very clear, so maybe next time.