Blessed To Be A Blessing

Orem Summerfest!

2009-10-31T09:38:00.000-07:00

We had lots of fun attending Summerfest this year. It was Noah's first parade and he was very excited! We got tossed lots of candy and this made all the kiddos' day. :) Aaron happily chomped on his candy while watching the scenery change. There were some awesome floats! Bothy boys also got to ride some fair rides for the first time. It went well for Noah but not so much for Aaron. After I had to forcibly remove him amidst screaming/kicking from two rides...his number was up. I refused to let him ride any more. He looked awfully cute while he was enjoying them though! :)

Ryan's Farewell Party

2009-10-30T16:05:00.000-07:00

We will miss you! Love and prayers go with you.

Noah's Firstfruits

2009-10-30T13:24:00.000-07:00

Noah loves cantaloupe! He found this little starter plant while we were picking out the items that we would plant in our garden, and asked if he could grow it. Upon arriving home he anxiously watered it, with the hose on full force and only 2 inches from the plant. As you might expect, it blasted out all the potting soil, much to my dismay. I told him that we needed to plant it quickly so that it would not die. He planted it and loved it all summer long, anticipating when he would get to pick one and eat it. Here he is-proudly holding his first harvest! :)

Alpine Loop (9/28)

2009-10-30T13:03:00.000-07:00

We took a drive up into the mountains to get our first ever look of the Alpine Loop during its famous Fall display. (We seem to always miss the mark of when the leaves are turning.) It was a gorgeous day as we enjoyed God's beautiful artistry splashed across the mountainside.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language; Their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.

Psalm 19:1-4a

Birthday Pancakes!

2009-10-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

Since I broke my foot on Aaron's birthday, we waited until the next day,(Noah's birthday) and took the boys out for birthday pancakes at IHOP. Our boys love pancakes! Since it was a special day, we let them get their own orders from the kids menu complete with choc chips and whipped cream. We also let them get a refill on chocolate milk! Whoa..happy day for both boys! :) (Usually, they share plain pancakes with Mom and are not allowed to get refills since it cost extra.) Fun was had by all, and of course, we as parents enjoyed the 20% military discount. Thanks, IHOP! :)

Reflecting on God's Blessing

2009-08-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

A sermon series that Pastor Mike preached recently is coming to mind today. When you are worried, disappointed, and life is pressing in on every side-consider who God is and what he has done for you, and those worries will diminish in the light of who God is.

My God:

*Faithful
*The great giver of mercy
*Embodies love
*Long-suffering (always waiting for us to turn to him)
*Creator of beauty

My gifts:

I am married to my best friend, Ryan Oldaker. We were married on October 16, 2004. We welcomed sweet Noah Ryan into our family on October 12, 2005. With full and happy hearts, we first gazed into Aaron Michael's eyes on October 11, 2007. Praising God for such an amazing gift, we closed on our first home on October, 17, 2008. (Can you see that October always seems to be the month of blessing for us?)

My conclusion:

I am so blessed.

This October, my boys will turn 4 and 2, and I will be a happily married woman for five years. We will also say goodbye to Ryan who will be heading to Iraq for a one year deployment. And, I will be applying for entry to the nursing program at Utah Valley University. Again, October always seems to bring with it- life change. Fall usually represents the beginning of the end, but the Lord has truly made it a time of great beginnings for our family. The year ahead will be most difficult, but I am trusting that my Lord who knows my every need, and loves me unfailingly, will again make it a year of great beginnings.

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16

Gardens/Landscaping

2009-06-13T15:51:00.000-07:00

Photos of my veggie garden and some landscaping that I have done. It probably doesn't mean much to you unless you saw what it looked like when we first moved in. ;) It wasn't a very pretty sight, but hopefully, I am improving it!

Boys Bathroom

2009-06-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

Here is a snapshot of how the boys bathroom looks for those that are curious as to the design. :) I love the colors! (Has a masculine feel for the tiny men in my life.)

Family Room

2009-06-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of the newly renovated family room. I painted in March while Ryan was away for military training. I purchased some used furniture that doesn't necessarily match, but I think it kinda works for an eclectic library/study type feel. We mostly spend all of our time in this room, since it houses the computer on the other end of the room, as well. I am certain that next winter will prove to be much of the same with the woodburning stove being so close. :) I really really like the way the room turned out!! What do YOU think?

Trip to Bridal Veil Falls

2009-06-12T13:23:00.000-07:00

When Ryan returned from some military training, we went to Bridal Veil Falls. It was a beautiful day in the 50s, but the snow was still around up in the canyon. Aaron waded through the icy water for a bit, and didn't seem to care (I guess Ryan is right...cold is relative.) The boys had a great time throwing ice and so did Ryan. He threw an ice ball and got me soaked!

Trip to Gardner Village

2009-06-12T13:11:00.001-07:00

The boys and I took a trip to Gardner Village. It's a quaint little place with shops and a petting zoo. The boys really enjoyed watching the big water wheel. It was a fun place to visit, but not so sure I'd go back with the boys. It's not very exciting shopping with Mom. :/

New Wagon

2009-06-12T13:04:00.000-07:00

I got the boys a wagon this year. The time for strollers has passed because I am not to excited about double strolling anywhere. Wagons work much better! This is the first ride they took and boy did they enjoy it. They would constantly ask to go for a walk, but what they really wanted was to ride while Mom traversed the neighborhoods.

Our Second Home

2009-06-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

Aaron loves to play at the Home de Home store! Now that we are home owners you will see us quite often at Home de Home or Lowes puttering around, dreaming dreams, and spending all our salary. ;)

Piano Recital

2009-06-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

I went to a piano recital for our friends, Jude and Leah. They both did a great job and it brought back memories of when I did the same thing. The picture with the piano teacher isn't so flattering, (she started talking as I snapped the picture) but I guess she won't ever see this so that's okay. ;) Isn't that piano to die for and aren't Jude and Leah the cutest kids? :)

Eating at Arby's!

2009-06-12T09:13:00.000-07:00

Nothing special about this one...just family time at Arby's. They were looking so cute that I had to snap a few shots.

Scenery en route to Vegas

2009-06-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

We aren't totally sure but we think we had an "Area 51" sighting.

A Fabulous Find!

2009-06-12T09:00:00.001-07:00

On our way to Vegas we found where Aaron....err....Tooker hails from! Touquerville! :) His people live here but we didn't have time to stop and mingle.

Vegas Trip (Feb 16-19)

2009-06-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

Ryan and I took our first vacation sans kiddos in February. It was our first trip to Vegas and we had a great time! (Isn't any time with your man sans kiddos a great time?) Vegas might be summed up in just a few words....gaudy-money-sex. Guess that is the general night life scene though. We went to two shows and both were great. Cirque Du Soleil-Mystere and Tournament of Kings, which also provided dinner. Had to love the military discount this trip as it saved us quite a bit of money on the shows. :) I am hoping to make my way back to Vegas again..maybe this time when the weather is a little warmer so that we can sit poolside and chillax. Oh, and if you ever go to Vegas...bring your walkin shoes! I had no idea all the walking it entailed and ended up with blisters due to my skimpy footwear.

Sorry

2009-05-08T22:12:00.000-07:00

....my dear faithful readers! It has been way too long since I have updated the blog. (Life happens and the blog falls behind I guess) I currently cannot locate the camera to begin the monumental task of uploading pictures and updating from the past few months. I might just start fresh with new pictures and anecdotes. :) Stay tuned in the next few days....as long as I find my camera....I will be updating. I think I may have lost my loyal readers, but we shall see.....

Dryer Scenario

2009-02-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

Perhaps to truly appreciate this post you would have had to see our dryer scenario beforehand. However, maybe not, because the picture with the mile-long vent hose is probably amusing enough. For some reason, the people who constructed the laundry room put the dryer plug on one wall and the vent hole on the opposite wall, but not in close proximity to where the dryer will actually be. For quite some time we had our dryer hanging out sideways in the middle of the floor so that we could vent the air. Now, Ryan has me all hooked up with what might be the world's longest recorded venting hose. :) That's okay, though....cause now I can turn my dryer around and put it back against the wall where it belongs. Hooray!

Oh, and I had to also put up a picture of my new shelf that Ryan put up. Now, I have a place to store all my laundry supplies and cleaning chemicals so the kids stay out. (Well, at least until they figure out how to climb up on the dryer and reach the shelf....)

***Babe, you are obviously quite the asset around here...making it into several posts about fixing things up for me....what are we gonna do when you leave?***

HA!

2009-02-13T10:40:00.000-08:00

This is random...

Okay....I clicked on one of the pictures below to see if the words were readable. Not so much....but the curtains behind me came through very clearly in the mirror!! Anyway.....

My Kitchen Wall

2009-02-13T10:34:00.000-08:00

This post is for my Mama. She likes to see when I have done different things with the house. So, Mom, let me know what ya think. I have this large kitchen wall that I have been trying to figure out what to hang/put up. I hate empty walls! This is what I came up with and I'm still trying to figure out if it looks okay. I'm not always really good with decorating and hanging things so that it evens out etc. I think the set up it is growing on me...but still seems like maybe something is missing or out of proportion. Anybody have any comments/suggestions? Did I do okay, or does it need some help? (Gotta say...I love the pictures and the sconce...it will look nice with candles burning!)

Home Gym Room

2009-02-13T10:29:00.000-08:00

Ryan has set me up with some gym equipment so I can work out at home. (Thank you, Ryan...you are THE best!!) It is so nice to get up early and get my work out done before the boys are even out of bed, as opposed to trying to go in the afternoon when the gym daycare isn't busy and my motivation has dwindled. I still have to finish decorating with some motivational posters...or...better yet....my old driver's license picture pasted right in front of the treadmill!! Ha...sad to say...but so true.... It is starting to come together though and I am so excited!! :)

Cuddle Bug

2009-02-13T10:25:00.000-08:00

Aaron snuggling up to watch a movie....such a sweet boy! Both boys still love to sit in the bouncy chair, despite that it is typically reserved for smaller children. ;)

My Favorite Guys

2009-02-13T10:23:00.001-08:00

Awww...no explanation necessary. :)

Say cheese!

2009-02-13T10:19:00.000-08:00

Trying to get the fam to pose all together for a photo op...just never seems to pan out. At least the adults are trying....

RockBand Tyme

2009-02-13T10:08:00.000-08:00

We got RockBand for ourselves as a Christmas present. For those of you who are under a rock or hiding in a box and don't know what RockBand is, I shall enlighten you. It is a game that has two guitars, a microphone and a drumset. At any one time, 4 people can play. Songs are loaded on the game and you play/sing along with the music, hitting the notes scrolling on the screen. It is a huge hit with everyone, including the kids. What could be better than strumming on the guitar and rocking out on the drums?! It is so cute to see tiny Aaron holding this large guitar all by himself. (However, once Dad gets the guitar it doesn't look as large....) He even puts the strap over his head like a professional..ha! I'd say that everyone likes to play drums best...except for me, 'cause I am just not that good at it. I can totally rock on guitar and bass though. :) We have been hosting "RockBand" parties and having friends over to chill. Time goes so fast and before you know it, the night is over. I have even been known to sing a few songs, and, despite God not having blessed me with the talent of singing...I scored a 100%. It "grades" on tone more than actual singing talent and I'd say it is pretty lenient with regard to how strict the grade guidelines are..haha. Anyway, it is lots of fun and if you ever have the chance to play...I highly recommend it!! (Come to our house!!! :O))

PB&J

2009-01-22T12:09:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the greatest invention ever made....

A budding Rockstar

2009-01-22T12:07:00.000-08:00

Visitors

2009-01-22T12:02:00.001-08:00

Unfortunately, I did not snap many pictures while my brothers were out visiting. Guess I was too busy doing something...just what....I'm not sure. We had lots of fun while they were in town. We hit up Tucanos, the movies, Cabelas and even tried our hand at skiing. Robert was a natural just as we expected. Chris and Ryan even fared better than myself. My boots did not fit very well and it was quite painful to even stand on my skis let alone try to do the work. I will definitely give it another whirl though...not giving up just yet. Robert and Chris got me a cake to celebrate my birthday while they were here. :) We had such a great time and it was sad to see them head back home. I guess all good things come to an end though, but hopefully, we have hooked Robert on skiing and he will be back..haha.

Sleepy Boy

2009-01-22T12:01:00.000-08:00

Kids are the closet thing to angels when they are sleeping, right?

Bath Fun

2009-01-04T16:03:00.000-08:00

December Twenty- Second

2009-01-04T15:55:00.000-08:00

A big snowstorm hit our town, the Monday before Christmas. It was beautiful to watch the falling snow, but shoveling ourselves out was an entirely different matter. ;) Ryan was certain he wanted a snow thrower after that day. I love watching the big, wet flakes fall! Snow is so beautiful! :)

Mortar Time

2009-01-04T11:44:00.000-08:00

I did not take these photos but I have a good guess who did judging by some of the quality. I think he was subtly trying to tell on his little brother.

My present!

2009-01-04T11:41:00.001-08:00

Here is a snapshot of our mostly completed project. We are using the stove but Ryan still needs to fill in where he removed the drywall. It is soooooo nice and toasty and I am really enjoying it! Nothing more relaxing than sitting in front of a blazing fire on a cold winter's night. Thanks, Babe!! You are the best!!

The Winning Shot

2009-01-04T11:40:00.000-08:00

Attempting a Christmas Photo

2009-01-04T11:33:00.000-08:00

As those of you with children know, trying to get the kiddos all set up to take a photo together is just exhausting and quite frankly, usually a frustrating process. I attemted to get the boys a photo together to put on our Christmas cards and these are some of the rare footage taken. After following them around the house taking various shots, the last and final straw came with the photo of Aaron screaming. I decided to call it quits and choose from one of the options that I had. Interestingly enough, I chose the very first photo I took, but actually ended up breaking it into two separate phots on the card.

Snow Days-

2009-01-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

We got several inches of snow prior to Christmas. One day we took the kiddos out, along with our friends, to play in the snow and build a snowman. However, it was that nasty Utah powder that wouldn't pack for nothing! So, unfortunately, no snowman and about 20 minutes later, everyone was ready to come inside for some hot chocolate. (Aaron looked so cute bundled up in his snow gear!)

Cookies!

2008-12-15T15:46:00.000-08:00

Noah helped me make a batch of cookies last week to get our Christmas supply started. He did a fantastic job of dumping the ingredients, barely any mess! It wasn't as smooth a process when we unwrapped the Hershey kisses. I think he ate as many as he unwrapped. My camera battery died so I didn't get any pictures of the rest of the process. :(

Noah's self portrait

2008-12-15T15:44:00.001-08:00

I found these on my camera and had to post since I thought they turned out fairly well for a camera in the hand of a three year old. :)

Everyone loves a Butterball!

2008-12-15T15:35:00.000-08:00

Did we forget the salt?

I don't want to be Thanksgiving dinner!

FBC Kidsit!

2008-12-15T15:32:00.001-08:00

Saturday we had a crew of kids over so that parents could shop, decorate, take a nap...whatever. We decorated cookies and as you can see they do not look so appetizing to our adult eyes. A little cookie with your sprinkles?

Always Projects

2008-12-15T15:27:00.000-08:00

Working on the chimney...our woodburning stove will be up and running soon. (I hope!)

Cookie Exchange Party

2008-12-15T15:17:00.000-08:00

I had some friends over for a cookie exchange earlier this month. We had a light breakfast fare, cookies/coffee and emjoyed some morning chit-chat. Here are some cute pictures of the kiddos. :)

Counting Down to Christmas!

2008-12-15T15:04:00.000-08:00

Here are my two sweet boys joyfully counting down the days to Christmas. Who knew counting was so fun? I guess anything is more fun if chocolate is involved. ;) As you can see, the "calendars" are hanging up high, but Noah got a chair when no one was looking, took his down and devoured most of it. So, now he is so sad when Aaron gets his chocolate and he doesn't get any.

My Cute King of the Hill

2008-12-01T09:17:00.001-08:00

Ta-Da!

2008-12-01T09:05:00.000-08:00

Behind door number two we have....a BRICK CHIMNEY! HOORAY!

Tree Tyme

2008-12-01T08:56:00.000-08:00

**I think the photos speak for themselves**

Counting my blessings

2008-12-01T08:22:00.000-08:00

I am sitting down to compose a list of all the things I have to be thankful for over the past year.

*Aaron's growth and health since his premature birth

*With God's help, I have been getting the necessary grades for entry into the nursing program

*The recovery of Aaron's eyes from chemical burns

*Our new house

*Opportunity to go visit relatives from Ohio, Georgia and Alaska

*My husband and the strength of our marriage

*Opportunity to attend the Messner reunion in Nashville

*Good friends, whom God has granted as family, who are happy to babysit my munchies or help me in any way needed

*My two sons who make me laugh, cry, and feel such exasperation, but also enrich my life to overflowing

*Opportunity for Noah to go to preschool, he is learning and loving it

*God's faithfulness in helping me to see that His promises are true

*Noah showing an increased understanding of God and prayer

*Noah's health has been great! He only went to the doctor once for his 3 year check up. :)

*Spiritual maturity for Ryan and myself

*My new friend, Sayaka, and her family

*A husband who is an equal co-parent, down to even dirty diapers (That is a wonderful blessing!)

*Two vehicles in good working order. (Did not have major car repairs this year!)

*Opportunity to take mini vacations with the family, enjoying God's creation

*God's faithfulness in financial matters

*Grandpa has received a pace-maker and is doing well

*I got to go to Cedar Point!

*Mama was able to visit

*I was able to have my first veggie garden

*Noah's love and care for "my Aaron" (Despite the fighting that sometimes ensues)

*The love and bond I share with my family. I am blessed to have such open, loving family members

I am sure there are many more if I were to continue to list. It is such a good thing to look and see what the Lord has done in your life in just one year. He has proven faithful and true over and over, sometimes without my even realizing it at the time. I say thank you, Jesus, with a full and grateful heart for who You are and for how You care about, and for, me.

Thanksgiving

2008-12-01T08:16:00.001-08:00

We enjoyed a lovely day spent with good friends. We had quite a spread and I enjoyed every bite. After dinner we visited and then played the game, Cranium. This was my first time playing and it was challenging. Jeremy ruled the day with the clay getting his team to guess "spanking" and "dna." I was so amazed that he could sculpt an action word and his team guessed it! Of course they won, but my team wasn't far behind. :) Thanks to all for making it a great day!! And, most importantly, thanks to God for all His many blessings this past year. :)

Guess

2008-11-24T18:21:00.001-08:00

which son put the screwdriver in the milk? (Well, seeing as how this is the last gallon we have...we will be consuming it anyway. I tried to get it out without sucess)

Gametime

2008-11-24T17:15:00.000-08:00

Noah's favorite game right now is Hungry Hippo. Somehow, he already knows what the rules are and he gets so upset when he thinks his hippo isn't "eating" enough marbles. I can't believe he just figured it out on his own that the point is to get the most marbles. I just wanted him to play to have fun so I didn't tell him the point of the game. Competition must be innate.

Look at Me!

2008-11-24T17:14:00.000-08:00

Our resident monkey who climbs up and all over EVERYTHING. He falls quite frequently, but seems to have a tough exterior. So far, no permanent damage done....

Noah's Noteworthy

2008-11-24T17:12:00.001-08:00

These are the pictures that Noah found noteworthy.

Whoa

2008-11-24T17:09:00.001-08:00

This is what Mom looks like after a late night of studying and an early morning up with the kiddos. I think she needs a hot shower and some sustenance. (Dude..check out the puffy eyes...)

Chopping TIme

2008-11-24T17:03:00.000-08:00

This is what was left of a tree that stood right in front of our house. It was an eye sore so we decided to chop it down. Ryan rented a chain saw from Home Depot and the job took all afternoon. He has since borrowed one from a friend and has made much better progress at cutting the tree into smaller pieces.

Harbor Freight

2008-11-24T16:59:00.001-08:00

Goofing off at Harbor Freight on a date night....hmm...yeah, maybe we are losers to head to Harbor Freight on a date night, but we were preparing to move and needed straps for the truck.

Is it Ryan or Angela?

Aaron's mischief

2008-11-24T16:56:00.003-08:00

I left this boy alone for just a few minutes and he wreaked havoc in the bathroom. So disgusting.... (That is a diaper in the toilet, as well as the toilet brush holder)

Always Eating-

2008-11-24T16:47:00.000-08:00

Every time I turn around these two boys want to eat something. Someone recently told me to forget saving for college, I need to stockpile money to feed them during their teenage years. I think that person might just be right!

Disconcerting News

2008-11-16T19:24:00.000-08:00

Ryan came home from guard and told me that he is scheduled to be deployed 10/09 through 01/11. His SRP is next month. The location is set. My nerves are frayed. This is the first time that everything has been so organized and a location determined. Therefore, it feels very real and intimidating. Upon hearing the news, the very first thing I thought was, "My daughter, MY grace IS sufficient for you." It was just a quiet response from God that echoed in my heart. To my surprise, it wasn't panic that I felt, but a calm assurance from God! Then, another, "I know the plans I have for you. Plans for good, to give you a future and a hope." While I still felt like I should be feeling panic, I found myself still fairly calm. (Even Ryan said this is not the response he thought he was going to get.) As I am walking closer with God these last few months, I find my initial response isn't always what I expect it would be. It is better! :) I know that God is not surprised by these details and He has things in store for me that are so great I can't even imagine it. It doesn't seem like this would be a good thing, having my husband head off to war, but God already sees the end result and I can rest knowing that He's in charge. It is a long way off and who knows...things might even change before it happens. One thing I do know...God's grace and mercy will cover me and see me through. My Redeemer is faithful and true.

New House

2008-11-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

The Sanctuary:

Here is where we can rest after a long day. I love how the room turned out! The pictures might not have turned out the greatest. The walls are orange and not many shared my vision, but after the drapes were up and the dark furniture was placed, it all came together so nicely. (Thanks, Mom, for the help!)

The "Library":

Don't quite know what to call this room. One corner is the "study" and the other side will be a "reading area" once all is finished.

The Kitchen:
I don't have any before/after pictures but the walls were a deep purple and we decided to lighten it up. I have two large windows that let in lots of light and a great view of the mountains. :)

Goodbye to Grandma

2008-11-08T20:41:00.001-08:00

It was a hard time saying goodbye to Grandma. Noah was very distraught and it broke my heart. As soon as they took her bags at the airport, he started to get upset, figuring something was going on. As she started to give him hugs goodbye he began to cry. He buried his head in my shoulder and periodically would turn to check on her. The farther away she got in the security line, the harder he cried. I, of course, was also a mess so Ryan had double duty this time. It is always hard to see the family head home. However, I am looking ahead to January and the visit of my two brothers.

All in a day's work

2008-11-08T20:35:00.001-08:00

Ryan and I went to work pulling out one of the numerous tree stumps that reside in our yard. It was a slow process at first: digging and scraping at the roots. Then we hooked it up to the truck and tried to pull it out but couldn't get any traction on the grass. So, we took apart the fence and used the road for traction. In just two pulls, it was out! Hooray, one down and three to go!

Back to The Mayan

2008-11-08T20:21:00.000-08:00

We went back to The Mayan so that Grandma could check out the show. Noah and Aaron did not go with us last time and they were both enthralled with the show. Aaron would just stop and stare at the divers. He was very entertained and, unfortunately for us, they do not come out as often during the lunch hour. So, in between times, Aaron wasn't feeling like being out to lunch. ;)

Birthday Moments

2008-11-08T20:14:00.000-08:00

The boys had a dual celebration. I think this tradition will continue with only one day separating the two. Naturally, they enjoyed the presents, cake and hoopla. Aaron didn't really did in his cake very much. We decorated it to look like a Jack'o'lantern and all he did was eat the gummy candy. Then, after 8-10 of those, he was finished. (I would be too!) They got plenty of goodies from friends and family and all in all had a great time!

Halloween Night

2008-11-08T20:06:00.000-08:00

Noah wouldn't have anything to do with dressing up. So, we ditched the traditional Halloween mumbo jumbo and headed up into the mountains. We took the Alpine Loop drive but were disappointed to find the scenic route already devoid of any Fall foliage. We ended the evening with a bonfire in the American Fork Canyon. It was raining, but the fire kept us toasty and fairly dry. It was a fabulous evening complete with some s'mores to get our "candy fix."

(Overlook poor Noah's pants. He fell asleep on the long drive and wet his pants and I didn't have any to spare. Eventually, I put a pair of Aaron's on him cause he was so chilly!)

Grandma's here!

2008-11-08T20:01:00.000-08:00

Grandma arrived for a long nine day visit. We did all sorts of fun things and one thing the boys loved was Chuck E Cheese! I didn't know Aaron could ride the toys by himself. What a trooper...he loved it!

Back to Hee Haw Farms

2008-11-08T19:56:00.000-08:00

Off to the pumpkin patch! Aaron just refused to sit down and enjoy the ride. After a little jaunt through the patch we noticed that there were no pumpkins left in the field. So, we came back out and pulled them off the shelf. Hmm...we could have done that for free at the grocery store. Nice.

Mischief

2008-11-08T19:52:00.001-08:00

I round the corner of the house and this is what my eyes behold. "Two boys," enjoying a pan full of brownies on the sidewalk. Apparently, Noah retrieved the glass 9X13 pan off the stove and carried it outside to have a feast. Aaron was more than happy to join the fray. I wanted to be angry but all I could do was laugh and, of course, that made them think they did a "good" thing.

Eating on the floor

2008-10-27T09:32:00.000-07:00

Ryan doesn't appear to be too happy eating KFC on the floor.....

Ack...there's a dog in the house!

2008-10-27T09:28:00.001-07:00

Bailey and Cam brought the puppy over to visit. Noah seemed to be very excited about the prospect of an animal in the house. He was cuddling with it in his bed. Mom did not receive the gene that translates into a love for animals. I don't think Noah will be receiving his new wish.

Opening Birthday Presents!

2008-10-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

The boys received a package in the mail from Uncle Chris, Aunt Irma and cousins. They were very excited. Aaron even tore into the package, but he did get distracted by the packing peanuts and began to chow down. Thanks for the gifts! I am getting my fill of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Aaron and his daddy

2008-10-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

I love these two pictures! Aaron seems to be gravitating towards a "daddy's boy" these days. Guess Mama doesn't get any "mama's boys."

Noah loves his hat!

2008-10-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

Noah found this hat while unpacking and loves to wear it. He likes to wear it at the breakfast table to protect his eyes from the sun. ;) We have a very large window in the kitchen that looks directly toward the mountain. Every morning when the sun gets higher than the mountain it shines directly toward his chair..haha.

My Boys

2008-10-27T09:06:00.001-07:00

Lessons with love

2008-10-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

I was walking down the stairs holding Noah's hand and he has a habit of drifting toward you as you walk. So, I accidentally stepped on his foot and he was very put out.

Noah: Owwwww. You can't step on my foot. You gotta be careful with me!!

Mom: I'm sorry, baby. It was just an accident, Mama didn't mean to do that.

Noah: You gotta be careful with me! That hurt!

He wouldn't let it go. So, mom had to explain about forgiveness.

Mom: When someone says that they are sorry, we need to forgive them.

Noah: Why?

Mom: 'Cause Jesus forgives us. We need to practice forgiveness with others.

Noah: Ohhh.

We'll see if he remembers any of his mother's words in the days to come.

Umm...

2008-10-25T13:06:00.000-07:00

I was going to post some pictures for your viewing pleasure, but I cannot find the correct USB to upload the pictures. So, you will have to be just a little more patient. ;) My plan is to have most of the boxes unpacked by this evening. Have I ever mentioned how much I despise moving? Well, just to reiterate...I DESPISE moving. However, thanks to God for His blessings...I hope not to have to do it again any time soon!

A New Hallelujah!!

2008-10-25T12:54:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite song! I get goose bumps and tears fill my eyes every time I listen to it. Can you just picture it? That not so distant day when all the nations arise and sing praise to the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world?

ARISE, COME ALIVE, LET THE SONG ARISE!!!!

A Praise

2008-10-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

Just taking a minute to thank God for our new home. We like this home so much better than the first one that we bid on and lost. The home we are moving into has more room, and more of what we really wanted. Mulling it over, it truly is an example of how God really wants to give us the desires of our hearts. We were a little bummed when the first one didn't work out, and it was seemingly a "no" answer. I am taking this as a lesson to trust that God does have good plans for me, and if something doesn't work the way I thought it should, that just means that there is something better He has in store for me. (Even if I can't fathom anything better than what I currently want.) Thank you, Jesus, for this huge blessing. I am overwhelmed at how good you truly are. I ask that You be the center of our home and help us to serve you more with the additional resources that you have provided to us. Amen!

Making Progress

2008-10-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

Noah is three!

2008-10-12T16:31:00.001-07:00

I didn't have any store cupcakes from yesterday's celebration and all the baking dishes are packed. So, I looked around the pantry and improvised with "birthday marshmallows!" :) Noah was very stoked cause he loves marshmallows. He carried around his "birthday marshmallows" and candles for quite some time. His one request has been that I keep singing the "Happy Birthday" song. I think it makes him feel special. Happy Birthday, Buddy. Mommy and Daddy love you!

October Eleventh

2008-10-11T19:04:00.001-07:00

October Eleventh has been a significant day for me in recent years. 3 years ago at this time I was in labor with Noah, my first child. It was scary and I wondered what was ahead of me. I was induced at 9 pm 10/11/05 after having worked a very long day at the office. I was so tired but the anticipation and uncertainty kept me up for hours. My mom arrived around 11:30 pm and I was able to relax....some. I received an epidural about 6-7 cm (Because I absolutely believe in pain management. Don't tell me that Moses' mama wouldn't be saying, "Girl you CRAAAZY for not taking drugs if they are available.") around 12:30. I talked ad naseum, must have been the nervous energy. I think I finally fell asleep about 4:30 am and slept for about 2 hours. I was ready to push at 6 but we were waiting for the doctor. (It was a very busy L&D night) Finally at 7:30 the nurse said we'd start without him. It was fine that we started w/o him cause I pushed and pushed, vomitted, pushed, vomitted, pushed, shivered, shivered, pushed, shivered, vomitted for two long hours. The nurse still had to go find the doctor to come in and told Ryan/Mom to keep me going. However, Noah was beginning to really emerge at this point and they told me to stop and ran to get the nurse, who promptly came back in and said, "Ohhh...don't move, don't move." The doctor did finally arrive and Noah made the rest of his entrance at 9:33 am 10/12/05. He was a very robust healthy 8 lb 3 oz 20 inch boy. He did have the worst cone head I have ever seen, but I guess that isn't so much his fault as mama's. It did, however, turn into a very beautiful round head and all the nurses just doted on him. He was so happy and content and truly had something special about him from day one. ;)

Speed ahead two years to 10/11/07, I was induced at 5:00 am since my water had broken almost 24 hours previously and no contractions had started. The labor process was much faster and intense this time! I again received an epidural around 10 am, but at a desperate 8 cm. (Those darn anesthesiologists are NEVER around when you need them.) I was happy to think I was finally going to get to rest for awhile. I was in the hospital all night by myself but I just couldn't sleep. Resting wasn't really in the cards though cause I went from 8 cm to 10 in a half hour. However, we again had to wait on a doctor to arrive as he was coming from the office. (My Dr was on vaca and this guy was filling in) Aaron arrived after a quick 4 pushes at 11:33 am. He wasn't nearly as robust as his big brother, but he was 3.5 weeks earlier, too. He weighed 6 lbs 4 oz and was still the same height at 20 inches. He was such a cutie, but I never really got to see what he looked like completely. He was having trouble breathing and without so much as a kiss or quick cuddle, off he went. He was later diagnosed with viral pneumonia. He ended up spending 12 long days in the NICU. However, once he arrived home he really began to thrive and today, you wouldn't even know it. :)

Anyway, just was walking down memory lane and thought I'd share my musings. As you can see, October 11 and October 12 are very significant days for me. Now, if I were to do it right....10/10/09 should also be a significant day.....

Tookus is one today!

2008-10-11T17:23:00.001-07:00

Aaron turned one today. We are having a party later in the month after we close. However, we wanted to give Aaron a little treat in honor of his special day. We gave him a cupcake and put a candle on it. He practically inhaled that treat and was very sad when it was all gone.

Argh..it won't all fit.

Trying to give Matt some air kisses

It won't go in any further....shucks

Celebrating 4 years!

2008-10-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

Ryan and I were able to get away for a quick dinner to celebrate our 4th anniversary. Since our anniversary is October 16th and that is the day we are closing on our house, we assumed that there will not be any time to get away then. ;) We went to "The Old Spaghetti Factory" and had quite a sumptuous meal. We tried to go to my favorite Olive Garden but the wait was 65 minutes so had to regroup. It was very reasonably priced...I got the chicken penne, salad, bread, iced tea and spumoni ice cream all for the price of $10.50! Sounds like a good deal to me. :) Thanks for taking me out, baby. I love you and look forward to this new year ahead with you by my side. You are my best friend, know all my secrets, and still love me just the same. What more could a girl ask for? Happy 4th anniversary, Love!

Where a kid can be a kid!

2008-10-10T20:16:00.000-07:00

We took the kids to Chuck E Cheese today to hang out and play with their friends in a pre-birthday celebration. (Aaron will be one tomorrow and Noah will be three on Sunday!) We will not be having the official party until after we move, but we wanted them to have a chance to have fun with some friends. During all this moving business it is easy for them to feel left out or left behind, since mom and dad do get a little stressed. ;) A good time was had by all! :)

Preston and some random girl who hopped on..haha

Miss Madelynn
Kyson and Shepherd playing the Bee game
Rena enjoying some Chuckie pizza
Bailey and Mayra having a GOOD time!
Aaron sucking in the pizza like a bottomless pit
Aiden riding the clock and asking if it is "time" to get off..haha
Noah making daddy proud at his use of the weapons
Noah taking Bailey on a lil date. He was thinking "Get out of here Mom, I'm not making a very good impression."

Noah's Bruise

2008-10-09T14:31:00.000-07:00

Noah wanted me to take a picture of the big bruise he got on his nose. He was throwing a fit, missed his footing and fell down the concrete stairs on the porch. My reaction, "Maybe next time you won't throw a fit." (Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree....) It was very swollen for a few days and it did bleed quite a bit. (Disregard the ketchup on his mouth...)

Sending myself to Grandma

2008-10-09T14:27:00.001-07:00

Please Mr. Postman, will you send me to Ohio?

My Handy Men

2008-10-09T14:16:00.000-07:00

Here is my handsome husband fixing our first frig. We got a fridge that didn't work and he is putting his talents to good use fixing it for cheap. What a handy guy.

Here are his equally handsome helpers.

Future engineer?

More on Moving

2008-10-06T20:21:00.000-07:00

Tim has asked for some details on the new house. I don't have any pictures so I can't post any! However, we are planning to close on October 16th so I will definitely post some pictures for you. This will be our first house so we are very excited. It is livable but it will require some work to get it looking the way we would like. It is 5 bedrooms/3 bathrooms...plenty of space for those out of town guests that should definitely be making their way to Utah. (Ahem...ahem...hint hint) The kitchen is very large so I am very happy about that. I really enjoy entertaining and this will give me the space to accomplish this. :) We are so thankful and humbled that the Lord has allowed us this opportunity. After renting for years, it is a dream turning into a reality to have something that belongs to you and there is something to be said about a feeling of permanency.

Oh, and one more thing, there shall be COLOR!! On every wall....everywhere!!!

Messy Aaron

2008-10-06T20:09:00.001-07:00

I always have to take pictures of Aaron while he is eating. I can't get over how freakin' messy this kiddo is....

Hee Haw Farms

2008-10-06T20:02:00.000-07:00

Noah and Preston on the hayride
We all went down this slide, including the chaperones...twas quite fun..but I hurt my behind on the lip at the bottom...apparently bigger behinds don't go over as smoothly as smaller ones. ;)
You can see Noah's head to the left...he wouldn't stand up for himself and the long line of kids just kept going in front of him so I had to go bust a few caps.
Miss Mayra....what a cutie!

I went with Noah and his preschool class to Hee Haw Farms last Friday. It was a great time. We got to ride a hayride, pick a pumpkin from the patch, go through a corn maze, and go down some super duper slides. Believe it or not...we got rained out. Who would have thought that this would happen in Utah?

Moving!

2008-10-06T19:58:00.001-07:00

Ryan is replacing the screens since someone put holes in them. Okay, sheesh it was me! I was overzealous in attempting to put the window fans in the window. But, everything else we have to fix is the kids' fault...I swear.

Well, my blog is sadly very outdated. Life has taken over and the blog has been left behind. So sad. Here are a few pictures of preparing to move. Believe it or not, the house looks even worse than this now.

Noah and Bailey

2008-09-19T15:33:00.004-07:00

Future couple? (Rather inseparable, they are)

Raspberry/Blackberry Picking

2008-09-19T15:33:00.003-07:00

The boys and I went berry picking this week. And, unfortunately, the rest of the pictures that I took did not come out. (Sorry, Sayaka!) Noah looked so cute with his little bucket tied around his waist. It was so nice that the blackberry bushes did not have thorns. They were, however, a lot harder to pick than the raspberries! They hang onto that vine quite well. We took a few of our friends for moral support and everyone had a good time. They were only charging $3 per pound so that is quite a deal! We picked blackberries and raspberries so that we could make some jam. We got about 7-8 jars of black/raspberry jam and froze about 8 cups of berries for later. Yummy! :)

Tired Baby

2008-09-19T15:33:00.002-07:00

Here are some images of a sleepy Tooker boy who couldn't wait for his bed.

I love Oreo Cakesters!

2008-09-19T15:33:00.001-07:00

I let Aaron try an Oreo Cakester for his dessert today. He had quite a good time with it. So much so, that mom had to give him a bath when he was finished. He had it all in his hair, down his arms...basically...everywhere! (Oh yeah, and check out the boy's fangs...you can see them quite well in the first picture)

Apples!

2008-09-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

Look at all those apples!
Hmmmm
I want to know how this thing works!
Noah showing off his skillz for Bailey

My friend Erin gave me some apples from the tree in her yard. I spent a good portion of my afternoon peeling/coring/slicing the apples, getting them ready to freeze. I still have quite a few apples left as it is quite a long procedure! I always enjoy making pies/crisps/and fried apples during the winter. In Ohio it was a tradition that we would to pick our own apples from a nearby orchard. As yet, we haven't found any "pick your own" orchards out here. Erin graciously gave us some of her apples so we lucked out this year! Thanks, Erin!

Thank You!

2008-09-16T20:54:00.001-07:00

This post is dedicated to all those who actively participate in teaching, or assisting in Sunday School and Junior Church and other activities where Biblical teaching occurs.

Noah was carrying around my heart necklace the other day. And, he came to me, pointed at the heart and said, "That's a heart...Jesus lives in your heart, Mom." The tears sprang to my eyes and I was not only touched, but so thankful to all the teachers who ARE making an impact in my child's life. At two, he IS grasping some of the truths that are being presented to him in junior church. I want to tell my son's teachers thank you, for giving of your time and allowing God to use you to reach my son. The tears are welling up again as I think of what a great, eternal impact is being produced even to the youngest level that we teach. I know each of you give so much and sometimes it is hard for you to attend worship services to refresh your own hearts. And, I am also certain that you do not get told "thank you" enough even though I know you are not seeking praise or reward from man. However, I think it IS absolutely vital that you are told and realize that what you do every week, DOES make a difference. I am still astounded that he caught on to that and realizes that "Jesus living in your heart" means something even at his young age.

May this refresh those who are discouraged or "weary in well-doing." God does use you! :)

Another Noahism

2008-09-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

Noah: "Daddy, I ate all my toast and it went down to my feet."

Brain Teasers (Thinking with the right side of your brain)

2008-09-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

I got all these ones correct. I was so stoked!

1. Whi11le

2. SMTWTFS knees

3. Jade NV