Jared's Video

So Jared is in his final class for this semester. One of his final assignments was a reflection assignment to look back on the program. He chose to do his in video format and wanted to share it here......

Yes, he's a goof!

Why buy new when you can re-use?

Okay, so really, it's more of a money saver but wow, it's great. Ellie is notorious for out-growing the length of her pants LONG before her little belly ever gets big enough to out grow the waist. Pants are just expensive and Ellie doesn't wear them out at all. So instead of buying more, I decided to lengthen the ones that she has. So here are the first couple of pairs. She is LOVING them already....keeps telling me to do more. (I think I have 3 or 4 more pair to lengthen)


You can see where I let the hem out but really, I don't care. I'm not that much of a perfectionist about it. Ellie has been picking her own fabric for all of these. She's really enjoying that part.

Sorry for the low-quality photos...cell phone pictures. My digital camera battery lasts about 2 minutes!

My little shout out...

So, while Jared doesn't see the big deal, and maybe it's not, he made the Dean's List with school!
He's been working hard(ie, HIS BUTT OFF) and I think it's great!
He's currently pulling a 3.95 GPA going to school full-time and working full-time!

Good Job JARED!

Baking Bread

Today, I made bread. I'm going to try some ideas on freezing it for quick cooking later. Hopefully it works out. Anyways, thought it would be fun if Ellie helped out. She was so excited. So here's the little baker hard at work.....or more like having a blast! Her favorite part was getting to PUNCH down the dough. Oh she loved getting to do that. Good thing I made two batches of dough. She couldn't wait to punch it down. Her second favorite part was making the rolls. She got to tear dough apart and roll it into little "balls". She had fun, so that's what counts. They might not look pretty but they'll taste just as good right? Can't wait for the baking to be done but nothing like a little chef helping you out.

Bye Bye Now!

(I apologize in advance for the bad cell phone pictures but that's what I had to use at the time! And SUPER thanks to Andrea, the woman who did my awesome haircut!)



So this is the "Before". (Yeah, it's kind of nasty, I really needed a shower this day!) Anyways, for the last 2 months I've been running about 5 days a week. At one month, I earned a new pair of running shoes, at 2 months I earned my haircut! So I hit 2 months yesterday. So, I got it cut today....yup, that's my hair! 12" right there....but we cut more than that. My hair went to a little 6 year old girl that is losing hers quickly. I know her mom was happy when she picked it up today.I have no front shots yet but here's the back. I think we took about 14-15" total off...and it feels SO good to have it gone. I was worried about the shock of the short hair, but really it feels so natural to me and I love the way it looks! I guess I shouldn't have worried as I've done crazy stuff like chopping my hair off before from being long. I think this is the most I have ever cut off though....so bye bye hair! I don't think I'm going to miss you!! But I know someone is very happy to have you!

(I will try to get a picture of the front sometime soon and post it on here!)

Jared's Fun (or saving his sanity!)

So with everything Jared has going on these days, he needs some fun. A few weeks ago (over a month??), we found a used plane online that was just what Jared was looking for.

So this is what he got: He needed to do some work on it but it's up and flying wonderfully now. He wasn't happy about the work, but at the same time, he's actually enjoyed working on it. He found it relaxing. So he's had his fun flying around, at least on the weekends.

Last year, Jared also worked hard to save up for a nice radio system for his planes. To keep it protected, he's been keeping it and transporting it in the box it came in. While this has worked, it has been a PAIN. You had to pull the styrofoam out of the box, open it up to get the radio out and then put it back. The box was also starting to get very torn and worn out from all of that. So I went on a hunt this weekend (mostly around RC forums) looking for cheap transmitter boxes. There were some good ideas but the best was either an aluminum case from Harbor Freight (about $30) or a cheap pistol case from Walmart. Walmart is closer. And, here it is, the CHEAP pistol case that works perfect for holding his transmitter!

Jared really wanted to keep his radio from getting ruined (and after you spend that much on one, you really don't want to risk it!) and what can be better than a $12 case from Walmart, complete with foam that can be molded to your needs! Yes, only $12! Can't be beat. Jared is happy and so is the checking account. I'm glad we found something. Now for Jared to take it out in the field for a real test.

Happy Flying!

Summertime!

Yay, it's summertime! Finally! I am enjoying kids being out of school and Ellie is enjoying having her brother around. Devon can't wait to start 2nd grade! He's so excited that he gets to be in a new grade when he goes back to school. Too bad he's got to wait until August.

It's only been a couple of weeks of summer for us and it's been busy. First there was the super fun 4th of July weekend. We had two baby blessings down in the Provo area we got to attend. Those were followed by hanging out with family, talking, laughing and even some deep conversations. Then the next day we got the fireworks show. The kids were looking forward to it! Ellie lasted about 5 minutes before she couldn't sit still anymore. Devon did really well this year. He sat through the whole 30 minute show! Sadly the 4th was on a Monday this year and Jared had to go back to work early Tuesday morning, exhausted! But it was a fun weekend.

Then, this past weekend, we hiked up Adams Canyon again with Adam and Leslie. The river was flowing faster than last time we went and the rocks at the top had been washed away some from the fast flowing waterfall. We had to wade through some fast moving water that was a few inches deep to get to the other side. I love that hike. It's always worth all the work and muscle burn to get up there! This time, I got under the falls! It was FREEZING so I could only handle a few seconds of it. Jared and Adam got under a few times. Those two are crazy. Amazingly, you warmed up pretty fast. I was surprised that my clothes weren't dry by the end. Of course, we stopped and played in the river on the way down too. We were careful about where we played, with the fast moving water, you don't want the kids getting caught up in it.

Yesterday, I took a bike ride with the kids as it was nice weather. We've had many off and on thunderstorms this summer. Today is one of those cloudy days and it's already rained at least once. I don't mind summer rain (love to play in it and dance around) but when it comes to lightning I don't think it's best to take the kids out in that.

The rest of the summer we are trying to plan out as we can. Jared is still going to school full-time so it's more challenging to just do things. We are also paying off debt as fast as we can so next year, when Jared is finished with school and debt is gone, we can buy a tent trailer and have our fun! (Hopefully Jared has the same job...the hours are just too good)

This weekend is the annual Antelope Moonlight Bike Ride. It's a 22 mile bike ride out on Antelope Island at 10pm. You get to ride by the light of the full moon (and your required headlight). Right now Jared is all signed up for it and we're working on the sitter situation so I can go. Should be fun!! We want to go hiking more this summer and hopefully camping sometime but gas prices aren't so friendly for travelling right now. At the end of summer we are hoping to take a vacation home, but we'll have to see what works out. We might even get to do something for our 10 year anniversary this year...we don't really know. With school and tight finances, you do what you can. Right now we are just hoping for a hike, a picnic and a take-out dinner after the kids go to bed. We'll see what we can get worked out.

All in all, it's going to be a busy summer! We have a lot going on and lots of fun things around. Hopefully the weather clears up and the kids can have fun. I'm also trying to find things to keep them busy! So hard! I'll have to look up some free activities.

Good Music

So often, I get annoyed at being able to find good music. I'm very annoyed that my favorite radio station has changed what they play now too! Sure, there are still good songs on there, but they are throwing in more and more of the "trash" music.

This morning I received an email from the guys I bought my "awesome" piano from. There was a link to a video on YouTube with Jon Schmidt. I absolutely LOVE this song....and of course, many by Jon Schmidt. I love music that can trigger GOOD emotions inside me. I'm really begining to love music without words. I've even fallen in love with Jazz thanks to Jared. My favorite right now of that is Dave Koz. He plays amazingly! You know good music because you can hear the emotion is what is being played...you can feel it with your whole being. I get that from these guys. One day, I hope to be able to play like that.....

Here's some great links to some fabulous songs....please enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's and Mom's to be.

Today was a fun mother's day, or at least, a very insightful one thanks to my husband. Today my youngest little monster was TRYING to be good. That usually doesn’t translate to being good. So sacrament meeting at church didn’t end up being the most spiritually uplifting time today! I saw what song was next on the agenda for the meeting. It was called “Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth”. Jokingly, I made the comment to Jared that if that [Home] was what heaven was going to be like, I don’t know if I want to go! Jared, also joking, said “Didn’t you know? In heaven you kids listen to you and do what you say and…..oh wait! No they don’t! Even God couldn’t get all his kids to listen”. So this took me awhile to get. Yes I am slow. Then it hit me, duh! Satan and 1/3 of the hosts of heaven didn’t listen and rebelled! So yes, when it struck me that was funny! So joking around and talking, I came up with my new mom motto. EVEN GOD CAN’T GET HIS CHILDREN TO LISTEN TO HIM.

So for a mom with challenging children or that one that makes you feel like you are going insane, don’t worry! Relax!! We are doing our best each day, and sometimes, the only thing you can do is love your children and be there for them when they need you. Yes, we strive to be like God, but getting our children to listen to us isn’t part of it (we just hope they listen! It doesn’t mean to stop telling them what they need to hear!)!! Lol!

Spring Break....Utah Style

Yes, it's "Spring" Break....but we are wondering where spring went. Just a week ago we enjoyed some lovely warm spring days. Now.......

THIS! The Kids had a BLAST playing though! They threw snowballs at each other....(and the house!) We tried pulling around in the sled but that is some wet snow! Then the kids decided to build a snowman! Surprisingly, they worked well together on this. No fighting!! Yay!! And the final creatation. Yes, Ellie's eyes are closed. We tried several pictures and they all came out that way!! And after, they came inside....so wet! The snow suits kept their bodies warm and dry, can't say that about the suits themselves...or their hair! Outside, it was snowing lightly the whole time. It was the nice wet snow. You can see Ellie's wet hair. Oh what a fun morning! Had to enjoy it before it melts...... if it does!!

No Sugar!!

So in yet another attempt to get healthy I've been avoiding junk foods and candy. It's been a few days to almost a week now. I don't miss it. Honestly, I was happy to give it up! I've been walking with a group a few days a week (most of the time :-) ) and trying to work out at home. I don't crave that stuff when I work out.


So far, no headaches with the lack of sugary junk food. I like that. I have been eating fruit, so that may help. Yes, you still get sugar but you get some good stuff with it too at least! I borrowed a friends Zumba DVD....talk about a blast! Love that! I can't dance to save my life but I still have fun. I bet I look absolutely ridiculous! Good thing it's early in the morning at my house! :-) It gets my heart rate up, makes me sweat and I feel so energized after! What a blast!! (I still have yet to try the longer workout so we'll see what I say after that!!)


Best of all with the no sugar....is none for the kids too! Sadly, it really didn't make THAT much of a difference in their energy level! They still wear me out and are just as crazy!! Oh my life.... I love it!!

To Do

I don't think I've ever been so excited about my house. Do we have the most amazing home? No. Not the newest home either with the most up-to-date features. It's old. But it's ours! Yes, I know I've said it before but after Jared got the job it just made it feel more real! I didn't think it would, but it did!

So recently, I bought a new ceiling fan. The one in our bedroom went out. So, we got a nice one this time but we decided to put the new one in the living room and the one from the living room into our bedroom. I LOVE it. It's just beautiful. I've been wanting that living room fan replaced for so long (I hate it!). This is also the first light fixture that we've really changed out in the living area of the house! Oh it felt so good. While at Lowe's I kept finding other lights...for the kitchen, the entry way...I know what I'm getting for the dining room (YAY Ikea!). So now, I have my make-my-house-my-own TO DO list.

-Replace light fixtures in kitchen and dining room
-Replace entry way light
-Refinish dining table (it's going black!)
-New countertops (Already picked it!)
-New cabinet handles (already know what I'm getting!)
-New carpet
-Finish painting rest of house
-New doorknobs (to match the new metal color throughout the house!)

And there's more but that list alone is going to take us over a year at least! I'm so excited. Who knew a new ceiling fan could make you so happy! (Yes, I am lame!)

The next chapter

And so it has begun.

Today, for the first time in over a month, I sent Jared off to work. We got up early. He had to get ready and I made his lunch. While I was making his lunch he came out in his work clothes. So strange. He's had those clothes for interviews and such but it's still strange seeing him dressed like that for work, especially knowing that he'll be working on base again.

This last Friday we got a taste of reality when we went into the main office to look at the insurance stuff and everything. WOW. That was a bit overwhelming. For our entire marriage we've only had to worry about military insurance. No deductibles or even monthly premiums! None of this copay/coinsurance stuff. We have to decide which plan is best. This one looks better to me, but other's say the other is better...but why? it doesn't make sense, looks like it would cost more!! But you have more freedom with your doc choice, I guess. Depends on what you want. It's all very confusing...but most likely, it is because it's just new. So the stress of change is kicking in a bit for us.

He Got A Job!

Yup, that's right, Jared has a job. He's very excited. He gets to combine his first love (C130 Aircraft Maintence) with his second love (instructional design). He also gets to learn things that he didn't get the chance to at his old job. As I said, he's very excited!

Good News

Needless to say, yesterday ended up being a very busy and productive day for Jared. He had a job interview with a company he's excited about....and the other job he's excited about, that his friend works at, well, he got some good news from his friend. The person that he referred Jared to wants to meet with this guy to discuss Jared more. It's a positive. At least she didn't just say that she wasn't interested in Jared. So some hope there. All around, a pretty decent day. Stressful for Jared, obviously, but exciting. He feels like that last interview went better than any others that he has had. I think it's because he was just himself, instead of trying to do all of the tips that he's been given at career workshops. Either way, his interviewing skills are improving. There's a bit of light showing through in the darkness that we are in. Hopefully, it keeps growing-a good sign that we are coming to the end of this dark tunnel!!

Discouragement and Hope

For the last couple of days, Jared's job hunt has hit a wall. No new job postings. No new contacts. He's made contact with everyone that he can again. And now, it's just a waiting game. With all of his job searching, he hasn't been at a point of just sit and wait until now. They tell you that you shouldn't just sit and wait, but what about when that's just what is left? What if God wants you to learn patience now?

Needless to say, that seems to be where we are at. I still have a lot of hope for the last job that he applied for that he would really like. They haven't even made it to interviewing for that position yet though. They are quickly trying to fill another position first (Nice having someone on the inside that can give you info). Jared on the other hand, is or was feeling hopeless yesterday. I'm hoping today he feels better. This morning he went to the temple with a friend. I'm hoping that will help bring him some comfort. I was also feeling a lot of discouragement last night. And even early this morning. However, shortly after I got up and going, I started to feel a quiet peace rest on me. The worry left my mind...nothing big or amazing. It was just a moment of 'oh, I haven't worried about that in awhile now'. Not only am I feeling emotionally calm, my body is feeling calm too. Sometimes, getting the psychical symptoms of anxiety to stop is harder for me that anything! The sense of urgency has passed, for now at least. I hope Jared gets to experience the same today. I've been praying for him to feel the comfort that he needs.

What do you do when you've done all you can? You wait. You have patience. You have faith that God will take care of the rest. You wonder how long 'long suffering' means. You wonder what else God wants you to do. And then, you just live your life the best you can. So that's where we are now.

February

Still not sure if I like the new blog setup...we'll see how long it takes me to get annoyed with it!!

The countdown is starting now for us. Yes we are nervous, but still sure we're doing the right thing. It's scary. We have a lot of hope. Jared was losing it the last couple of days but whenever he's ready to give up, God seems to show him that it's not time to yet. This last time, a job that's just perfect for him opened up. It was with a place we had both pretty much given up on but for some reason I felt I should check their job board that day. Sure enough there was the job. It's entry level, which he's excited about. This time, his application has made it further through. We are trying not too get our hopes up too high but it's a great position with at a great company. We'll keep you updated.

Today, Jared's records we're finally updated and he has now OFFICIALLY graduated with his associates degree!! Yay! They'll have the formal graduation in April up on base but he probably won't go and he'll just pick up his diploma. He's also getting all setup to start on his bachelors degree! If everything works with that, he'll have that degree is about a year. (Yes, he'll be working his butt off during that time and trying to find a full-time job or working at one already!) Then, his plan is to move onto his masters degree from Utah State! I'm sure he'll want a break in there!

As you can tell, right now we are on a high again! Excited about the future even though we are nervous about what might happen. We'll figure out whatever we need to do!! Wish us luck!!

Too Early

It's just after 4:30 in the morning. I have been up since 3 am. I cannot sleep, once again. Last night I spent most of the morning tossing and turning with my mind just running as fast as it could. So, instead of spending hours doing that once again, I'm up writing in my blog watching The Office on Netflix. I hope I don't laugh too loud.

The job search is still ongoing. It seems like things are at least somewhat moving forward. There's a lot of opportunities out there but I guess the thing is just to see which ones work out or gets interviews or something. Jared is working hard. He says he feels busier now then he did when he was actually working. Honestly, getting a job is going to be like a vacation for this guy. We're hoping that when he does get a job that he can get the start date pushed back a week so we can take a vacation. If we have to move (Jared will not commute any further than he has to) than we'll be getting all that taken care of.

So, it's almost 5am....and I haven't really written much. Spent too much time watching netflix. I'm still not tired, sadly. I really wish I could have some sleep. I guess I slept most of the night a couple of nights ago....so I'll sleep again in about two weeks.

New Year, New Challenges

As we welcome in a new year, we welcome in new challenges with it. This is the year that Jared is getting out of the military (in a week actually!!). This is also the year that he'll be finding a new job, and starting his work on his Bachelor's degree. The kids we'll be turning another year older and we'll be celebrating our 10 year anniversary this year. Yup, a whole decade.

We are scared, but excited. Finding a job is going to be challenging. We were hoping something would have worked out by this point. No such luck yet. You never know what can happen in just a few short days. However, I know that is just hopeful thinking there. We are trying to stay as relaxed as we can about all this. Needless to say that we are getting very nervous. As Jared says, he can always get a job at Home Depot until something else works out.

The excitement of it all is that this is OUR house. YAY!! It's not a place that we are just living in until the military moves us anymore. This is OUR house. We are excited at all the fix-ups and such that we want to do to this place. It's going to be very different...eventually! It's probably going to take us years to get this place how we want, but we have the time now. We sell it if we want. That part is nice.

We do find it hard to keep the faith with everything. We both really believe that Jared getting out is the best choice. But short-term, it looks like such a stupid idea! It's hard to look past that sometimes. Once you start looking at the long-term consequences of staying in, it doesn't seem so stupid. It's just scary and hard to think about what we're going to do. It's very hard to find comfort at times with our decision when things just don't seem to be working out like you would hope. I mean, most of all that we hoped would work out would be Jared having a job by this coming week. Just having something all lined up for him to start after he's done would be perfect. I just don't know if it's going to work out that way. I know Jared is working hard to find a job and we're praying hard and living our lives the best we can. I know that doesn't always mean that things will work out, or that your life will be easy. I guess the biggest thing is that doing the right things makes your life easier than it would be otherwise in the same circumstances.

So here's to hope, here's to a new year and hopefully a successful change!