Life according to my iphone

So this post is going to be super oober long!!  These are a bunch of the iphone pictures from the time we got back from Utah...... end of August, till now.  Just trying to catch up!!!

 I'm doing my very best to eat healthier and make better meal choices for our family but there is something about a corndog dipped in mustard.  It's too delicious!!

 We LOVE going to the park. It's getting too cold right now!  But we sure make good use of the parks while it's warm enough.

 She loves to wear her swimming suits around the house.... oh well.

 Getting rid of the fo-hawk.  Not a fan of buzz cuts but this kid is cute enough to rock any hairdo!!

 Sunday night game nights.  Eric was the best hider.  And we laughed and laughed after Sadie and I found the boys under the travel pen.

 Hiding in the shower was as creative as we got.

 I loveeeee taking pictures of him napping.  It cracks me up that he's got a binky here.  Mostly because he's always been an anti-binky kid.  This is prolly one of the only pics of a binky in his mouth that I own.  haha

 Our traditional Sunday dinners...... breakfast for dinner.  Crepes on the menu=perfection!

 Trouble with a capital, T!!

 Can open doors now. uh oh!!

 On the way to Delaware to Helen's funeral.

 We stayed at the Poquita's and had a wonderful time there!

 Eric was running that grill!!!

 Our traditional barbeque with crabs!!

 Playing basketball with Uncle Elmer!!

 Both of our kids loveeeee corn on the cob!!!

 Decorated cupcakes for cousin Tyler and facetimed him to sing happy birthday!!!

 Looking at toys in Walmart........... favorite activity around here.

 Using a utensil to eat.... sniffle sniffle... growing up too fast.

 Eric googled a recipe for chocolate chip cookies......... had to take a picture.  Cooking never happens around here from this guy!!

 Train rides at Norlo Park!

 What do YOU do with cereal boxes?

 My first paycheck!!!!!  I jumped and danced around for awhile!!!

 Waiting for Eric while he was at his dentist appointment. We went to Panera, we looked at the toys at Target and got some frozen yogurt.

 Birthday flowers from my parents.  Eric was in the doghouse for quite awhile in regards to this b-day.  haha

 Making smores over candlelight.

 Ghost juice with some friends.  A sparkling apple cider.... sooooo good!!

 Peyton got a new pack of Superhero underwear.......... so we wore them like this all day.  On bums and heads.

 Loves to wear my boots and shoes.

 We went with some friends to a Halloween carnival a few days before Halloween.  There was lots of food, games and a haunted trail.  Peyton was a vampire/pirate/batman.  And Sadie was Princess Jasmine.

 The elders helping Eric build a barn.

 Elder Zaugg the zombie with Peyton at the trunk or treat at the church.

 Elder Deroest and Peyton..... Peyton only cared about his candy.

 Girl's night out!!!

 One bottle of soy sauce, one bottle of worchestshire sauce, and half a thing of juice..... didin't stop there.... oi.

 Funnel cake and mozzarella sticks from the stand at B.B.'s.  We raided our piggy bank!!!

Eric cut out lots and ltos of wood for a craft night with our ward's relief society.  

Lots of fun things going on1!!!!

My life

That's me sitting up at the counter there.  Sure we don't have a dog, and a new house like that, but everything else is exactly how it is.  Although, the picture isn't showing the "recipes" behind the counter that Peyton made for me.  (flour, sprinkles, juice, milk, lemon pepper, oatmeal, etc etc)  It is distributed in every tupperware container I own and half of it is on the floor itself.
Legit!  I don't know what it is... but the last two weeks our house has been a darn explosion!!!  I can't keep up with my two.  I'm about ready to get rid of every toy in the house, lock up every cupboard (I've already locked up the fridge), and hide every marker, crayon, stamp or art supply.
Oh wait, I know why this is happening all of a sudden.  The no TV thing.  A wise lady told me once that if I take something away.... I need to replace it with something else.  Here's to an evening brainstorming some alternative activities!!

Delaware Trip

I've got to write down some of my experiences before they fade away as a lost memory.  This story that I'm about to tell starts four years ago.
Eric and I were living in Massey, Maryland and attended Smyrna ward in Delaware.  Our best friends, the Shahan's had some good friends, Helen and Leann.  Leann had been Rachelle's sister's best friend growing up...... Helen was Leann's mama.  Well, Leann ended up getting baptized and Helen was heartbroken.  Helen was a HUGE anti-mormon!  Well super looonnnnggg story short..... the Lord definitely softened Helen's heart right up!  I really got to know her first when she came to a Relief Society Activity for our church.
I had been asked to sing a beautiful song, "Live like you believe" for that evening.  After  that evening she came up to me with tears in her eyes thanking me for the beautiful song. I felt a kinship with her then.  A couple weeks later, I got a phone call from Helen asking me if I'd be willing to sing that song for her baptism.  Of course I said yes.  I remember what a joyous day it was when she was baptized.  So many tears of joy were spread!!  Helen has one of the most kind souls I've ever met.
Fast forward the four years.  We've moved around a few times since then but one day I got a phone call from Rachelle.  She was inquiring if I would be willing to sing for Helen's funeral when she died one day.  Surprised, but I definitely said yes.  As it turned out, Helen had a very large brain tumor and her expectancy was very very short.  Helen wanted to plan her funeral herself so it wouldn't be a burden to anyone after she was gone.
I then went to Utah for a month.  A couple weeks after I returned, I was cleaning my kitchen when I heard an audible voice whisper that I needed to practice the song for Helen.  I complied and ran through the song a few times.  I then checked my facebook....... Rachelle, Helen, and Leann are avid facebookers and I knew that if Helen's status had changed, it would be on there.  No word.  I practiced the song quite a few times that day.  And as strange as it may seem, I felt Helen's love as I ran through the song.  It warmed me inside and out.
The next day, I came down with a horrible cold.  One of the worst I've had in quite some time.  I couldn't sing a lick....... it was also the day that Helen died.
The funeral was scheduled a week from that day.  As the week progressed my anxiety levels rose.  I knew how much it meant to Helen to have that song sung at her funeral.  The day before the funeral, and I still couldn't sing a lick.  I had sooooo many thoughts run through my head that day.  I almost called Rachelle numerous times to bail on her because I really could not sing.
Instead I decided to have a little faith.  I received a priesthood blessing, we all piled into our car and headed down to Delaware the day of.  I attempted to sing the song a couple different times in the car as we drove..... still nothing.  Surprisingly, I was calm.  My heart was at peace.  I think I knew a miracle was about to happen.
When we got to the church.... our accompaniment hadn't shown.  She finally made it a few minutes right before the ceremony started.  We ran through the song a grand total of ONE and a half times.... my voice still not up to par.  She was frazzled because her day had been so crazy and she'd been late.  But as we said a prayer together, I felt even more at peace.  I knew that it would be alright.
Helen's funeral was beautiful.  It was joyful..... full of wonderful stories about her life.  Wonderful testimonies were born!  Then we were up.  As I looked over the congregation at so many familiar faces I started to feel the nerves.  I started into the song and I was cracking all over the place.  I couldn't sing!!!  I felt panicky for a couple seconds thinking, "Maybe it wasn't God's will that a miracle happen today."  Then, as I looked over taht crowd again at a rest......... I saw smiles, I saw support and love.  And that's when I felt the prayers from the week, the prayers from the crowd, Helen's spirit buoy me up.
My voice became clear, the music swelled!  I had not only walked forward in faith, I leaped and I know because of that, we were so blessed.
I'm grateful to a Heavenly Father that knows everything!  He loves us and wants us to have faith in Him.  I had been inspired to practice that song right before my sickness hit so that I was prepared.  A definite miracle.  God is good!!

My sassafrass!

I've got this little girl who is cute as can be, but oh soooo sassy!  I'm freaking out a little bit because I see so much of me in her.  Heaven help us!  Ways that Sadie Mae and I are similar in personality: 

#1.  She becomes obstinate when told what to do, especially when stern!  

#2. She loves all things girly!  The more bracelets, headbands, and necklaces on, the better.

#3. She's a screamer!! 

#4.  She loves her sleep!

#5. She a pent up hyper sort!  haha

It really is soooo fun!  She cracks us up all. the time.!!