blessed indeed.

this was my view this morning. lovely isn't it?

then i read this:

Alma 30:44

..yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

how can i not believe?

we are so truly blessed.

oh hello there..

this poor little blog of mine. we've seen a rough year.(updating wise)

i have been meaning to update. wanting to. planning to.

but life happens. potty training, mothering, cleaning, church, cooking, being a wife, getting ready for boutiques, trying to give my children the attention they need/want, cleaning (again and again) playing referee and etc.

it feels like we've been running in circles, then playing catch up. then starting the same routine again. anyone else ever feel this way?!

i've just come to the conclusion that life is crazy. it's busy. but it's good.

today was a catching up day for my house. really, it was so awful. it looked like a tornado, or 2 little boy shaped ones had gone through and worked their magic.

every so often (like when the season changes) i get the urge to de-clutter, re-arrange furniture, etc. i've learned to enjoy it, well i love the feeling i have after the work is done! it is such a liberating feeling to see a huge, and i mean ridiculously huge pile of junk ready to be taken away! i haven't made it through the whole house, but i'm amazed at the pile i have with just the few rooms i have gone through. i don't even care where it goes, as long as it's out of my house!

but life. sometimes i wish i had all the answers.

ever have so much on your mind you don't even know where to start?! i'm there. my mind is spinning. so many things to do. to think about, to plan.

1. Christmas. i have too many ideas for my boys and i can't decide what to do. i want a simple Christmas. a fun and memorable one, but i'm driving myself (and timmy)crazy with my indecisiveness. we just need to commit, buy it, then i guess that's it. i have, or at least know what i (or i guess we) are doing for everyone else. that is a relief. i am truly amazed by those of you who are already done. i wish to be more like you. seriously.

2. does anyone else find it hard to like someone you don't really respect? just wondering.

3. we (i and some family members) have a booth in the beary merry boutique. we set up on monday and it's going all week. i can breathe again (until the next one!) i actually have time to clean my house and fold some laundry! we are crossing our fingers that it'll be worth it. i think it will.

4. decisions, decisions.. what to do..

5. my almost 3 year old has started the destructive tantrum throwing phase. i'll rephrase that, he is perfecting it. how do you reason with a 2 year old? specifically one as stubborn as mine?! he's lucky he is so dang cute and loves to cuddle his mommy. and at least he's not getting shy about kissing his mother in public like his older brother. why do kids have to grow up anyway?

6. i love this quote: "always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." Judy Garland i wish you

could make people see. just shake them and say be you! be unique! stand out! because when you try too hard, you're not being true to yourself and people can tell. and who likes fake? we are all meant to shine in our own way. we may have similar talents, attributes and/or capabilities, but they combine in such different ways within each of us. this is one thing i wish for my boys to understand. they are and will be loved , liked and respected for being themselves. i think we all needs reminders now and again.

sorry for the randomness.. but what is a post with out pictures?!

seriously amazing.

i've been wanting a new purse for a while now.

one that i love and want to use everyday.

one that is pretty neutral, so i'm not having to switch all the time.

i fell in love immediately.

isn't she gorgeous?!
she is found here and here for a tutorial!!

when i find some gold velveteen i'm so making myself one!
(i'm already designing it in my head, & i have the perfect material pick out for the lining!)

anyone have some extra gold velveteen they are dying to get rid of?
anyone else love it as much as i do?

anyone want to have a purse making party?

a little bit from our table this morning..

Merr: you 'member we went to find trantu-los? (tarantulas) and i got a sticker on me? and Me-Ma called it a cock-o-burd? (cracking up!) and mason got a cock-o-burd?! (cock-a-burr)

cock-o-burd! cock-o-urd!

(about to choke he's laughing so hard)

Merrik: you 'member that on nacho? on the nacho libre movie? he has the mouth and eyes and nose? that so funny! (laughing)

(i look at breck to translate. i have never seen it all the way through)

Breck: when he puts the stuff on the food and makes a face.

me: o, okay, yea i remember that!

Merr: yea! that so funny! (still laughing)

randomness is how we roll:)

life is definitely not boring with these 2 around!

flashback..aug. 2008

i was looking back through photo files & can not believe how much these boys have grown!

they have been so much fun. makes me miss the little baby days.

but i admit i am loving the independent boys i have now.

merr is using the potty (multiple times) every day. we are crossing our fingers that the time is near of no diapers!

being a mom is hard. it's frustrating. tiring. the job never ends.

but it is so very rewarding.

i have never been happier. never laughed so much. (or cried so much) learned so much, been so overwhelmed and yet so satisfied.

these kids are amazing.

this is exactly where i want to be.

a happy thing about today..

i got to get away for a few hours with this guy.

always a good time.

thanks for being mine.

xo

summer afternoon with papa..

a new hobby..

this summer we made our first attempt at gardening.

we (timmy actually) built a grow box for our starting year. next year we'll add another one or two. we used a lasagna method (think layers) and it has taken off!

we have loved it! it has been such a blast watching the plants grow, picking fresh veggies and knowing where they came from, what chemicals were used(none in this case) etc..

we will most definitely be making this a yearly tradition.

there is something so satisfying/fulfilling with gardening.

after we planted green beans, basil, a few variety of peppers, tomatoes and onions, elk or deer found us and ate a lot of our plants. what they didn't eat they trampled. you can see their hoof prints all over this picture.
so we replanted and tied fishing line with caution tape around the perimeter, we heard the fluttering keeps them away. it must! we haven't had any more problems with them..a few weeks later..

and last week..

last week again!

it has turned into a jungle! the tomatoes have taken over! the boys love to go check it with us and usually eat 1/2 the green beans and tomatoes we pick while picking.

amazing how a little seed with the help of soil, water and sun has the ability to grow into a plant and produce fruit. this world and the wonders of it are no accident. we have been blessed by a Heavenly Father who loves us and has provided for our needs. we have much to be grateful for!

faces.. part 1

i've been missing. slacking.

i've been in a drought of creativity for this little blog.

i'm still in the rut.

but i have missed it.

& i'm coming back.

to get it going, enjoy some little faces from july.

rainy days..

#2

we finally planted a garden this year!

one grow box (we're just starting out) and we'll add

another next year.

it looks a little barren right now b/c we had "visitors"

a few nights in a row.

they ate the tops of 1/2 our plants and trampled/stepped

on quite a few more.

but they are slowly coming back!

*****************************************

p.s. selling jewelry & a few headbands tomorrow in Taylor

@ the old church house on center street!

(look for the tags one little poppy)

picture & quote of the day..

the common or mundane moments and interactions

that daily might seem inconsequential

are perhaps among the most critical and influential in character development

and nurturing family relations.

(quote found in the seeing the everyday magazine)

sat. the 29th..

we are selling our headbands & jewelry @ the farmer's market in show low tomorrow

(sat. 9-1)

stop by & say hello!!

(& buy a few things if you'd like:)

(it's on the street just north of the down town chapel

& the square with the statue of the men playing cards.)

have a safe and wonderful weekend!

a walk in the park..