Simple Mom Solutions

I am posting this mainly for my friend Christina who was upset with me last week for just finding this out.  (okay, and it is also a shameless plug, but it's my blog right?) In case you didn't already know, I have a deal site that posts deals, coupons, amazon deals, diaper deals, Rite Aid shopping lists and coupon matchups, menu plans with recipes, shopping lists, and price estimates, and other money saving and frugal living tips.  I don't post every free sample and useless deal on my site, it is usually stuff that I need and want. Apparently none of my crafting friends didn't know I did this.  Well, here ya go girls, I do!  And I also teach coupon classes.  If you are interested I would be happy to teach you.  I like to keep groups small so you get all your questions answered.  Stop on over here, if you are interested.  And right now I'm having a giveaway for a $50 Mixbook Photobook Certificate. This just happens to be my favorite photobook site! Go here to enter, all you have to do is become a Follower!  I will be doing a Favorite Things Friday with giveaways every Friday of things I love!  So there is my shameless plug, I promise I won't self promote anymore! :)

"It Takes Faith. . ."

I've been MIA for a while lately (or so my friends say) but life has been a bit crazy and I feel like I have been a bit of a spectator to my own life.  We've been in a scramble since Tommy is now out of work. I've taken more hours at work to help with money which means late nights and early mornings so I don't have to work when I'm spending time with my kids (so far we have had not luck in qualifying for government health care, so glad I pay into a system that rarely benefits me and seems to help those it shouldn't, don't worry, I won't go into a political discourse right now I promise) I've been helping my dad clear out his business and files, and I'm now in the Relief Society Presidency which seems to have way more obligations than scouts :) 

 To be honest, I have felt a little picked on lately, as nothing seems to be going right.  I took Jack to the doctor who seems to be a bit concerned with the size of Jack's head.  While others tell me not to worry, it is hard not to when your doctor keeps re-measuring it and begins talking of a possible shunt due to excess fluid in his skull.  By the end of the week I was emotionally exhausted with everything and felt quite bitter that we had to clean the church on Saturday.  Luckily I have a child who tries to keep things in perspective for me when he starts lecturing me on how important it is to clean Jesus' church and reminds me that it is ok that daddy lost his job because he has money in his bank.  

At my Relief Society Presidency Meeting, my President shared this quote which I absolutely love and has brought a lot of comfort to me.  The Lord manages to teach and comfort us in so many ways and I can't help but think that this sister was prompted to share this with me:

 “It takes faith—unseeing faith—for young people to proceed immediately with their family responsibilities in the face of financial uncertainties. It takes faith for the young woman to bear her family instead of accepting employment, especially when schooling for the young husband is to be finished. It takes faith to observe the Sabbath when ‘time and a half’ can be had working, when sales can be made, when merchandise can be sold. It takes a great faith to pay tithes when funds are scarce and demands are great. It takes faith to fast and have family prayers and to observe the Word of Wisdom. It takes faith to do ward teaching, stake missionary work, and other service, when sacrifice is required. It takes faith to fill foreign missions. But know this—that all these are of the planting, while faithful devout families, spiritual security, peace, and eternal life are the harvests.
“Remember that Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and others could not see clearly the end from the beginning. They also walked by faith and without sight. Remember again that no gates were open; Laban was not drunk; and no earthly hope was justified at the moment Nephi exercised his faith and set out finally to get the plates. No asbestos clothes or other ordinary protective devices were in the fiery furnace to protect the three Hebrews from death; there were no leather nor metal muzzles for the mouths of the lions when Daniel was locked in the den.

“Remember that there were no clouds in the sky nor any hydrometer in his hand when Elijah promised an immediate break in the long extended drouth; though Joshua may have witnessed the miracle of the Red Sea, yet how could he by mortal means perceive that the flooding Jordan would back up for the exact time needed for the crossing, and then flow on its way to the Dead Sea.

“Remember that there were no clouds in the sky, no evidence of rain, and no precedent for the deluge when Noah builded the ark according to commandment. There was no ram in the thicket when Isaac and his father left for Moriah for the sacrifice. Remember there were no towns and cities, no farms and gardens, no homes and storehouses, no blossoming desert in Utah when the persecuted pioneers crossed the plains. And remember that there were no heavenly beings in Palmyra, on the Susquehanna or on Cumorah when the soul-hungry Joseph slipped quietly into the Grove, knelt in prayer on the river bank, and climbed the slopes of the sacred hill.

“But know this: that undaunted faith can stop the mouths of lions, make ineffective the fiery flames, make dry corridors through beds of rivers and seas. Unwavering faith can protect against deluge, terminate drouths, heal the sick, and bring heavenly manifestations. Indomitable faith can help us live the commandments and thereby bring blessings unnumbered with peace, perfection, and exaltation in the kingdom of God” (Spencer W. Kimball, in Conference Report, Oct. 1952, 50–51).

Happy Birthday Jack!

That's right, my baby boy turned one.  Crazy that a year has flown by but what a CRAZY year it has been.  This little boy has kept me on my toes from the second he was born.  He is full of personality to say the least.  Porter was such an even tempered easy going child, but Jack, well let's just say he is completely the opposite!  He is, shall we say, a bit bi-polar but he certainly is such a fun-loving joyful kid when he is on the upswing.  It has been quite a year of sleepless nights which we still haven't overcome but how can you resist this smile?

He has just started walking and can take just a few steps before he gives up because he can crawl faster than any other baby.  He says two words.  One is Mama (yes I'm loving that!) and the other is Ama.  Let me explain.  When I first taught Porter the clean up song a few years ago, he translated clean up into Ama. ("Ama, ama, everybody everywhere. . . ")  So for some reason Jack has picked up on this and now sweetly sings Ama, Ama.  So dang cute!

We celebrated his birthday with a Mickey Mouse Party.  The cake:

Note for all you mothers, don't have your one year old's cake have black frosting on it.  I didn't expect him to dig into it as much as he did because Porter hated his cake, but Jack LOVED it!   Needless to say we had to throw him into the bath before the party could continue.

He wasn't sure about it right at first.  I put a little in his mouth and then he started to get into it.

And dug deeper.

He thought it was hilarious.

And this was the end result!

The opening of present was a bit overwhelming.  This present was my favorite.  Haven wrote Jack a card and on the back she has constructed a lesson on symmetry.  I love how kids think!

Jack is such a joy to have in our family.  He adds quite a new dynamic.  He loves to wrestle with anyone but especially Porter whom he beats up on a daily basis.  Pillow fighting is his favorite activity.  I need to get a video because I have never seen a kid laugh so hard, especially because he is getting bombarded with pillows at his face.  Apparently this is the funniest thing in the world!

I think it is indescribable the joy you experience being a mother.  I love my boys and wouldn't trade it for the world!  I am blessed that although right now I do need to work because of some uncertainty, I am grateful that it allows me to still be home with my children.  I cannot imagine working a full time job and consider myself lucky that my main job is to raise my children.

And the Battle Rages On

Did I mention we have mice?  Yes mice,as in the plural.  We have now caught around 10 and I am writing this while sitting at my mom's house because I saw my second one this morning.  I am writing this more as a venting and coping exercise more than anything I warn you.  Now let's backtrack for a moment.  I am an over-reactor and an anxiety ridden freak who does get swallowed up in the false info on the internet when I start to stress over something. When we found our first mouse, I told Tommy if we find one we will find at least 10.  My mom and Tommy assured me that it was probably just one or two and when we found the entrance point we would be done with them. Now although I am not happy about being right, maybe my over-reactions should sometimes be taken more seriously.

Tommy has dealt with all the rest and it had been about a week since we had seen really any or any signs of them.  At first I felt disgusting because maybe my house wasn't clean, but once the mice enter they can breed fast!  21 Gestational cycle to be more precise and from what I can tell they can start breeding soon after they are born.  So even if the mice entered my house a month ago there could be more!  Upon sighting, I packed up the kids and headed to my mom's house.  They are in one centralized location in our house it appears but I don't really like the thought of my children playing around areas where mice have been or could be.  Almost everything in my cupboard is now in plastic containers and I have just about lost my appetite.  I vacuum my house EVERYDAY, in every nook and cranny and underneath couches.  I sweep the kitchen no less than 5 times a day and continually spray lysol everywhere.  Everytime I walk downstairs I hesitate and slowly turn the corner for fear that I will see another one.

The exterminators are coming tomorrow. I called a number yesterday but after one company charges $39-$50 per mouse removed and the people at Orkin told me no less than 5 times that mice lay eggs, I decided on BEELINE Pest Control, so here's hoping.  While on the phone with the orkin tech, I even hesistated for a moment in my elementary knowledge that mammals don't lay eggs and even double check the internet just to be sure I hadn't completely lost my mind.  I mean it was supposedly a trained animal control technician.  But indeed, Mice are mammals and therefore do not lay eggs.  The Orkin tech kept telling me that I would need to have their services for a year because even though we may catch the live ones their eggs will be left in the walls to hatch.  Um, WRONG! Although the thought of a mice infestation makes my stomach churn, I do believe (and hope and pray) that we will soon be rid of them. After which will require another thorough cleaning of every cupboard, pantry, drawer, and baseboard in my entire house.   

Jack Jack

Jack has become a WILD comanchie!  He is seriously out of control!  He NEVER stops moving.  He is hands down the fastest crawler I have ever seen and could go forever. He continually bounces up and down. He is also a climber.  He can climb just about anything.  The latest accomplishment?  My bed. Now Porter is not safe anywhere.  Today, after learning his Articles of Faith, he was being "attacked" by Jack, he said, "Jack, you will be punished for your own sins and not for Adam's transgressions."

Jack loves to pillow fight and wrestle and thinks it is the funniest thing he has ever done!  Who knew getting hit in the face with a pillow was so funny?  Sometimes he gets laughing so hard I think he is going to stop breathing.  He can definitely take Porter in a fight and usually does.  Oftentimes when we are at the grocery store Jack rides in front and Porter will sometimes ride in the front.  Without even turning his head, Jack will reach his hand around and pull Porter's hair while he is still smiling at me.

This boy keeps me on my toes as he is constantly getting into one thing after another and the worst part is that he knows he is naughty and squeals in delight.  But however naughty, he is irresistible.  He knows how to be coy and flash his cute smile to everyone.  I now have a favorite checker at Rite Aid who never gives me an issue with anything now because she is so smitten with him.  It is amazing to see the differences in my two children.  Oh, and in case you are wondering?  No, his sleeping is still HORRIBLE!

He isn't quite walking but can balance FOREVER!

Porter's First Talk & The Articles of Faith

Ok, forgive me for a second for my proud parent moment.  Apparently he has an incredible ability to memorize. (not so good with numbers, did you know eleventeen is a number?) Does anyone else notice when he says name of Jesus Christ that he closes one eye like he is saying a prayer?  And I totally love it when the King says "NO!"

He is learning the Articles of Faith right now. They get to pass them off in Primary.  He's done two. Here are the first three. Love this little boy!

Sometimes You Have to Laugh

Do you ever feel like if you stepped back from your life for a moment that you would find that you live in a comedy?  At the risk of becoming a social pariah, let me share with you my week so far.  To think it is only Wednesday almost makes me cry.

So I decided to organize my pantry, something I have done not too long ago.  The first three shelves looked great and I was moving on to the next one that has first aid supplies and electronics.  Well, it also has corn and rice bags as well to use as heating pads.  Well, I noticed there were pieces of corn  on the opposite side of the bags.  What the. . .?  So I pulled out the boxes and the corn was spread all over the back of the shelf.  Weird. And then I saw little black flecks and some were smeared.  I knew what this meant.  SICK!  (let me just say that I used that bag no less than 1 month ago so this hasn't been going on for too long.  So I cleaned all that up and moved to floor.  I pulled on box out and saw what looked like  black string.  Although I knew that it wouldn't be that simple and when I started to move the box the black string disappeared.  I grabbed the kids and drove to my mom's and told Tom that I would not return until the mouse was caught.  My mom informed me how impossibly that probably was to think he would be able to just go home and get it.

Well, he caught the mouse by throwing a sticky trap at it!  Seriously, my husband is awesome.  Then caught another one.  So I came home and slept the night thinking maybe the problem was solved.  The next morning I sent Tommy down again to see if we had caught anymore. One more in the same place as the other two, so I grabbed some clothes and went to my mom's to hide out again.  Tom came home from work that day to find two more had been caught.  So he stayed home from class and went on a tirade.  Well, we discovered that there was an electrical cord going in to the house with quite a large opening that the mice could easily get in to our house and then climb out the vent.  He caulked it up and since then we have not seen any signs.

Just to give you an idea, they can fit through the tiny vent above, SICK!!

I took the boys down to Provo today to see Josh and McKay and guess what?  My car died, Porter pooped his pants and I missed my work meeting.  Then I headed back to my mom's house to have dinner until Tom came home to be sure there were no more mice before I came home.  I refuse to be the one to dispose of them!  I am that ninny stereotypical house wife, who would have thought?  But then in the middle of cooking chicken the power went out.  My mom drove up the street to see two boys being arrested after having crashed into a power line while under the influence I am guessing due to the cuffs.  But seriously?

Some days you have to laugh just to keep from crying.