When did I stop??

I was just about to say "Stop, real me in, I've changed my mind" when my older brother put the boat into gear and pushed down on the accelerator. My older brother is like any other, slightly reckless and loves to torment. As the inter tube launched over the first wake and I was trying desperately to hold on imagining the pain I would feel when I hit the water. When I landed I didn't feel pain I felt... pure JOY!! Memories of jumping off ten foot cliffs into a mound of sand, haystack jumping, riding my horse through the hayfield at break neck speed to be the first to reach the pivot and get drenched, crick (creek for you proper folks) jumping on my horse in the mountains. And then I was smacked in the face with the big question...When did I stop having fun? More importantly why?

Fun for me over the last year has been a day out where the boys don't fight. Having pleasant conversation with someone I just met. Watching a movie that had a good ending...BLAH! I need to find a way to turn myself around real fast! I am 28 not 68! I need to stop acting like an old lady before I become one. I need HELP! LOL

Catch up!

Wow, how sad is it that I haven't updated this blog in 3 months? We have really started to feel at home here...it only took 7 months! I have made some really good friends only to have them move away:( How sad for me!! Do not cry for me, my amazing out going personality has enabled me to make more friends! LOL!

There are SO MANY little boys in our neighborhood. Every night, planned or not, they meet in front of our house and ride scooters until the sun goes down. Good thing I have a well stocked freezer full of Otter Pops!

We have also located an awesome spot to go sledding. Yes I said sledding. White Sands National Park is made up of, well white sand! We bought some sleds and the boys LOVE to go sledding. It is awesome because the sand is not hot. Crazy I know!

Corbin played baseball for the first time this spring. I wanted to sign him up for for T-ball since it was his first time, but he was too old so Machine Pitch it was. I shouldn't have been surprised that he took to it like a natural, but I was. He won the game ball 3 times! He is amazing!

The boys just finished up swim lessons and are now ready to go on vacation to Island Park, ID and then off to Mommy's hometown of American Falls, ID to go fishing and boating. I can't wait!

BIG BED

I have often been asked why we opted to get a bigger bed for Camren (3). I think this pic answers these questions.

TOILET PAPER FLOWER

Camren in using the bathroom for quite sometime (I know TMI!!). When he was finished he came into the room where I was and said, "Look Mom I made you a flower"

Can I just tell you how happy it makes me to know that I am thought of!!!

GUESS WHO'S 7!!!

Yes that is a brownie and a match! This last week has been CRAZY!

My favorite picture! First day home, we were both way tired!

Happy Birthday Corbin!!!

I am not sure I can say time has flown! Every time I look at my handsome boy's face or watch him interact with other kids I think to myself, "He can't be that old. How did that happen?" But I can't imagine life without him in it!

Who is he?

Favorite color: GREEN

Favorite food: Chicken nuggets, Grilled Cheese Sand which and Tomato Soup, Baked Potato Soup.

Favorite toys: Star Wars Action figures, Light Sabers

Favorite book: Tom Sawyer

Favorite movie: Hot Rod, Transformers, EVERY STAR WARS type movie ever made

Phrases: Actually mom, Like I said, Did I tell you, you look pretty today. Your hair is pretty. (the last two are usually just before I discover a huge mess or when he is avoiding getting into trouble)

What he wants to be: Race Car Driver, Totally Awesome Dad (like his!)

The Lord knew what he was doing when he let Corbin jump off the cloud first. He is the World's best big brother, helper, dare devil, you name it!!

FEBRUARY??

This last week has been so wonderfully warm that is has made activities such as these possible!!!

(Camren and E. standing is a bucket of water)

(Camren, J. and A. refilling for the water fight)



I think El Paso is starting to grow on me!!

PORTER

Introducing

PORTER THOMAS H.!!!

Sarah finally sent me some pics so I could "Blog" about my newest nephew. Isn't he the cutest? This little (and I mean little) guy was born Jan.25 weighing 5 lbs 14 oz.

Some little fun facts for you:

Sarah is 8 years older then I am

My oldest will be 7 in March

Both our first borns were boys, born in Orem, and delivered via C-section!

CONGRATS SARAH AND RANDY!

CAMREN SAY WHAT?!

My little Camren has to be the most adorable little boy, and when he opens his mouth the most odd thoughts escape. For example:

Camren was sick with a fever for 4 days. At one point he was sitting in the recliner with his eyes closed. I came and knelt next to him, laid my head on his lap, and started rocking the chair from the ground.
Me: Cam do you want me to rock you?
Cam: You are rocking me.
Me: Do you want to sit on my lap and rock?
Cam: (Looking out of one eye) I want to sit on yours head.

The next day I was running him a bath. On the bathtub was a mug that I had used to refill his vaporizer.
Me: (noticing that he was distracted and in deep thought) Cam are you OK?
Cam: (staring at the mug) I want to pee in that.

Today Camren woke up really late which is nice because he is usually in a better mood when he sleeps in.
Cam: Where's Corbin?
Me: School.
Cam: You need to spank his bum.

I love that he has the most random thoughts with no filter!

CORBIN, CORBIN, CORBIN

There were definite times when I was not sure if Corbin was going to make it.

This is a little boy that if you were in need of a good cuss word he could provide one for you and in perfect context.

This is a boy that was once thought to be the leader of the California Chapter of the Jr. KKK (if there is one!)

This is a boy that no matter how many times asked or bribed or disciplined would not sit still in primary.

But last Sunday this boy surprised me.

We were sitting in Sacrament when it was announced that an older lady and her husband were baptized the night before and would be confirmed. He looked up from tormenting his brother and stared. He asked why they were so old. I proceeded to tell him that some people don't know about the gospel when they turn 8 and that is why missionaries are so important. He then shushed me!!! I thought, "Great, he is never going to learn."

When the older couple were both finished with their confirmation, still staring he said:

C: I want to do that.

M: What, be baptized?

C: No THAT. I want to be a missionary and do THAT.

I was so stunned I didn't know what to say. I just put my arm around him and kissed the top of his head and thanked the Lord for showing me that what we teach our children is never in vain!

PAY IT FORWARD

This has been on a couple of my friends blogs and the idea sounds fun. A little excitement when the mailman comes and something to get your creative juices flowin' when it is your turn to send it out.

This is how it works:
Pay if Forward Exchange is based on the concept of the movie "Pay it Forward".
I will send a hand made gift to the first three people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join the PIF exchange.
All the gifts will be made and posted out 'sometime within the next year'.
How exciting to not know when your surprise package will arrive!
What you do in return, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.
This Exchange is only open to those with active websites or blogs.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PROMISE TO POST THIS SAME 'PAY IT FORWARD' MESSAGE ONTO YOUR BLOG, WHICH MUST BE ACTIVE IN ORDER TO PLAY. YOU WILL PAY IT FORWARD TO THREE PEOPLE WHO COMMENT ON YOUR BLOG.
I'd love for you to join me! Will you?
Other comments are welcome,
but only the first three will be my Pay it Forward recipients.
Sounds like fun, right? No pressure, just fun.

7:30!! REALLY?!

Corbin has officially moved his bed time to 7:30! Since he needs to wake up at 6:30 to catch the bus at 7:25 every morning he has felt like he hasn't gotten enough sleep. So, slowly HE has been moving his bed time back a half hour and has settled on 7:30. Of course it is never easy waking up that early (I feel like my eyes are hanging out of my head), but he feels he is finally getting a "...sufficient amount of sleep." (his words not mine!) What a silly boy!

THEY CAUGHT ME

Today was a very eventful day at church. They received our records and welcomed us to the ward in Sacrament. While waiting for Sunday School Bro. Bartlett our second counselor called us in to the Clerk's Office to give us our callings. (OH JOY!!) They called us to be team teachers in the Primary! Jody (He was excited to have an easier calling then Scout Master) gladly accepted for the both of us while I sighed to myself and thought "Here we go again, another 5 years in Primary!" Children must LOVE me!
While leaving Sunday School the first counselor called us over to the corner and asked me to speak next Sunday. Argh! I dodged this bullet for the last 8 years!
Then during Relief Society I was asked to read the longest quote and scripture.
THENNN, after Relief Society the lady whose calling is to welcome new members into the ward stopped us and informed us that she needed to take our picture for the ward directory that is posted online! If I would have known I would have washed my hair and spent more time on my make-up this morning!
Today I was popular!

OUTSIDE!!

taken from the balcony off our upstairs family room

This is the front and back of our new home. The front is decorative rock...and the back is undecorative rock! We are still trying to come up with a game plan for the backyard. Our neighbors say that it is really expensive to water and the grass is NEVER green. It is no wonder that the previous owner's left the backyard bare for the last 4 years!
I don't think I gave the specs on the house so here they are:
Built: 2005
Square ft: 1997
Bed/Bath: 3/2.5
2 car garage
Family rooms: 2 (one up and one down)
The Master is downstairs and the kids' is upstairs. I was a little worried about being so far from them, but it has proven to be the answer to our prayers! Camren FINALLY stays in his own bed because he is either too scared or too lazy to walk down the stairs!
Just to clarify, we CANNOT see Mexico from our backyard. We are in West El Paso so we have a mountain range to the North and New Mexico to the West and South . Because the point to the mountain separates the east and west sides of El Paso we don't even see the east side!

VISITING TEACHER'S ROOM

So I have heard rumors of complaints that I am not blogging about my new home. I didn't want to seem like I was bragging, plus things are not 100% the way I want them so I am hesitant to post pictures. But to please my audience I will post about my pride and joy, my visiting teacher's room aka the formal living room.
The couches are not new but the rest of the furniture is. We stumbled onto a furniture auction the first we were here! The experience was amazing! I had only been to cattle auctions before and was always fascinated with the auctioneer but I was always on the selling end and never knew the excitement of being the buyer! It is bitter sweet that the auction was only 3 days, if it had been longer then I would be broke and my house would be full of furniture; but I miss the excitement!
The amour retailed for $1800 and we won it for $450. The clock retailed for $2000 and that was another $450 win. The coffee table Jody won for $50 and the sofa table I won for $150. We also won a couch that retailed for $2300 for $450 (We put that in the upstairs family room). It was a blast and we furnished out home for a fraction of the price.

The walls are bare right now, I watching HGTV and constantly shopping for the perfect wall hanging!

GO EAGLES!

We took Corbin in for his first day of school...again!

Camren was not very happy about Corbin leaving him!

He was already making friends. The little boy in the grey was so cute. He had put "peeJAMahhs" under his pants so he wouldn't be cold! The little girl sitting next to him just giggled at everything he said.


This is his new teacher. I think she might be LDS. When the lady that was helping us register him took one look at his birth certificate and said Mrs. Ford would be perfect. I didn't understand until we walked up to the classroom and saw a big BYU flag hanging just outside her door. Then they were talking to him about where he was born (Utah) and not where he moved from. HMMMM!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

How was your New Year's Day? Mine was Awesome!! My sister Shalisse and her husband Scott flew out for the holiday, making them our first house guests in El Paso. Shalisse and I spent most of our time in the kitchen cooking. For those of you that know Shalisse, don't faint, it is true she WAS cooking! We steamed lobster tail, made stuffed mushrooms, baked pizza, and munched on a vegi tray all night. I was totally lame and fell asleep before I could watch the ball drop. The inability to keep my eyes open past 10 pm was something I inherited from my mom!
I know to the average person our night was low key, but I loved every minute of it!