One Day at a Time

June

2009-11-06T13:43:00.000-08:00

June held many new adventures for us.
After many years of wanted to and then talking myself out of and/or procrastinating, I finally got my CNA. So the first two weeks of June I was back in school learning. The tricky part was getting a babysitter for 2 weeks for 10 hrs a day. Luckily I have great friends and young women (who needed a project) to help me out. When I did my clinicals we went to Silverado Senior Care Center. Along with learning hands on, I got to pet a baby kangaroo and raccoon. AWESOME! I have pictures but they are in my old phone which Gracie has put in a safe spot and so when I find it I will post those pics.
While I was tackling that project I still was trying to be a good leader and help our young women get ready for girls camp. In that same 2 week period I (and other yw leaders) went on 2 hikes which both ended up in the rain:) The first one I thought I wouldn't make it, I prayed and prayed that I would have the strength to endure. I tell you those prayers must have been answered cause I wanted to give up so bad. Once we made it, I put my dripping wet socks on the wood burning stove to dry them off and, ya needless to say I went home with no socks that night they were a little crisp. Not one of my brightest ideas.
We also went on our 5 mile hike which ended up raining and my sweet Emily hurt her knee while hiking. It was great hike and gorgeous view but I had, had my fill of beautiful nature for one week.
Other camp activities I got to take the young women to Suessical the Musical in Midvale. It was a very cute play. I was really surprised to see my Aunt and Uncle there, I found out that my cousin and her son were in the play which made all the better to watch.

I also had the wonderful privilege to go through the temple with one of my very best friends for the first time!!! Then a week later I was very blessed to be able to attended her wedding with my loving husband (Yes, his boss actually let him off for once) and watch her be sealed for time
and all eternity to the man of her dreams. Love you Jenn!

June held a lot of fun and exciting adventures such as trips to the zoo, youth conference, weddings, and showers. I'm sad to say that I didn't take many pictures. It was one crazy month and I loved every minute of it. Maybe not at the time but looking back I wouldn't have changed a thing.

2009-06-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

In my quest to catch up I have just posted 3 new posts :) Sorry so much at once!!

The Clove Award

2009-06-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

My cute little Gracie received the Clove Award on Tuesday. So what I have learned is that Dr. Clove was the first superintendent for Murray School District and when he passed away left all his money to the school district to give to the children that he loved so much but was unable to have any of his own. So at Liberty Elementary is given as a citizenship award and along with it comes a $10 gift card to Barnes and Noble yay :) We are so proud of her. I am so glad that she listens to her teachers and does what she is asked! When she was little I had the fear that she would get in trouble a lot at school for talking but it looks like as for now I don't have to worry. Good Job Gracie!!!

Preschool Program

2009-06-04T08:31:00.001-07:00

Last Wednesday, May 27, Chris had his preschool program. OK so we are walking in and Dez goes to hand him his lei and he all of a sudden is very shy and says he wants to go home. I am doing everything in my power to get him to go on stage with his classmates so I can ooohhh and aaahhh over him. Well it didn't happen I was a very upset mommy. Later I found out he was mad because he wanted a red lei instead of blue (there wasn't any red!) Anyways, Desirae did an awesome job as always and we can't wait to go back next year.

Happy Birthday Month

2009-06-03T21:29:00.000-07:00

CHRIS
May 1st was my big boy's birthday. He turned 4 and now he thinks he is hot stuff sometimes he's too smart for his own good. For his birthday we went to the zoo and he was able to take one friend. So we took cute little Sammy, and some cousins and friends came along for the ride as well.

He is all about dinosaurs right now he got a lot of dinosaur books and we had dinosaur flags in his cup cakes. Other thing he got for his b-day were a pillow case from Aunt Jennie, hot wheels track , transformers, and of course a bike. I love my little man he can always make me smile. I love his surprises he gives me many times a day, the surprise is a hug and a kiss and what mom would love that surprise. Happy Birthday to my buddy!!!
CARTER
My baby turned 2 on May 17th!!! We went to Jungle Jim's just as a family, Mema came too. He had a ball but unfortunately I forgot my camera so no pics. Family came over on Sunday for cake and ice cream; the most important part of a birthday if I do say so my self. Carter got a scooter and lots of other fun gifts.

What can I say about my baby whose not a baby any more. He is so full of love and has a smile that just melts your heart. Andy and I joke that Chris is able to joke his way out of trouble and Carter is able to look at you and that will make whatever he did go away. Girls watch out for this one those dimples will hook ya. His hugs are the best and his laugh is contagious.
My boys are growing up so fast I can't even believe it. They are the best of buddies and I pray that they will stay that way. This is exactly what I hoped for when I found out I was having another boy!!!

BOYS! you gotta love 'em

2009-04-24T08:47:00.000-07:00

Chris informed this morning, he says "Mom me and my friend have nuts and we have a pee. So we have a pee-nuts. Really Mom we do."
I have never heard it quite put that way but I laughed for like 5 minutes. It put a happy point in my not so good morning.
Then about an hour later, Carter comes into the living room rubbing instant oatmeal in his hair. Let me tell you he rubbed it in good. At the time it really wasn't funny but I knew I would want to blog it so I had to take some pictures before I cleaned him up. He was really proud of himself until we hosed him down with the shower.

Some days I wonder what I have gotten myself into!

Easter Cinna-Mice?

2009-04-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

OK so the other day I was on Studio 5's web sight looking for this peepsicle recipe I had seen and I also found a Cinna-bunny recipe. Both looked like lots of fun so I decided to give it a go.
The peepsciles were fun. You take a bunny peep dip it in chocolate, roll it in peanuts or coconut. Then freeze it for 30 min. They were actually really yummy. Even if you don't like peeps which, Andy hates, they are good.
I also made the cinna-bunnies and well they ended up looking more like cinna-mice. Oh well they were really good too.

Brotherly Love

2009-04-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

O.K. on Wednesday we went to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. I will post pictures later but this was so cute I had to share it before I forgot.
There is a little cave tunnel thing that Gracie and Carter were having fun running through and it took a little time for Chris to see it was ok. I crawled through with him and so did my mom. So that he was ok with. But when Gracie wanted to go to the corner of the cave Chris FREAKED! He was so scared he was pulling on her foot and shirt begging her not to go any farther. She was thinking it was funny and kept at it then finnally he said "No Gracie I afaird you die!" It was so cute to see how much he loved her. Anyways just wanted to share how cute my son is and that he really does love his sister. Even though Gracie doesn't fully understand it yet but he will always have her back=)

Happy Birthday

2009-03-17T13:39:00.001-07:00

Yay birthday week is over!!! For those of
you who don't know this week I had 5 birthdays in my family. My moms was the 12th, my niece Alison's was the 13th, mine is the 14th, Gracie's and my brother-in-law Dustin's was the 16th.

Allthough the other birthdays are pretty cool Gracies was the most enjoyable and exhausting. Let me just tell you a little about my wonderful daughter. Her due date was the 11th but she just didn't want to come out. And still to this day she takes her time and runs on her own schedule. On the 15th I went to my dr appointment in tears just wanting her out. So the great doctor that I have said she would induce me. So we broke my water all was going well the I got a fever. What we thought were signs of labor was actually the flu. So much fun!! After 15 hours of labor (but heavily drugged up) My cervix just wouldn't budge over an 8. At 6 a.m. the doctor gave a choice of getting preped for a c-section now or wait an hour see what happens, but most likely still need to do a c-section. So that's what we did. We preped and at 7:04 a.m. our sweet little Donna Grace was born 8 lbs 3 oz and 19 in long.
Now 7 years later we have a beautiful little young women who is a big help with her little bothers. And is the apple of her parents eyes.

So yesterday to celebrate we had 6 of Gracie's friends come over and play games, cake and ice cream you know all the birthday stuff. One game we played was pin the horn on the unicorn. Just a side note I can't believe the great job Elise did on the unicorn. She is an awesome artist and young women in my ward that I asked to draw the unicorn for me. I posted a picture of it. It blows me away. Thanks Elise!! The girls had a blast I think it was funnier to see who got the furthest away. We also made glitter play-dough. Very messy but the girls loved it. We had a rainbow cake to go along with the unicorn theme and just partied until the parents came!!
Happy Birthday Gracie!!!

My made uphair do!

2009-02-23T13:35:00.000-08:00

O.K. so I don't like to show of my creative side much (because there really isn't one), but I think I did a dang good job on Gracie's hair on valentines day so I'm going to show it off. I didn't see it anywhere which is usually how I get her hair dos I just thought it up in bed the day before her school party tried it without a braid, not so cute so on v-day tried it with braids. This is what I got.

"M"azing Gracie

2009-02-10T15:02:00.000-08:00

Grace is the "M" azing student this week in her class. So Sunday night we were going through all our old pictures to put on her poster board. (Cuz you know me I leave everything to the last minute). But here is some of the things that makes my wonderful daughter amazing.
-She is an awesome big sister. She is Carter's favorite, in fact his first word was Gracie, (more like acie)
- She loves to read as do I, but unlike me she is really good at it.
- She can spell. She goes to second grade for her spelling tests!!
The things we wrote down to tell her class. Favorite food is mash potatoes with BROWN gravy, Favorite animals are bunnies and unicorns, favorite books are Sarah's unicorn and Unicorn Wings. And also we told them the story of her. She fell off the barstool when she was 18 months and split her head open. She had to have 9 stitches. Even though the dr. said her scar would grow with her skin and end up in her hair line as she got older, it's still in the same spot right between her eyes.
I love my little mini me (looks only) I'm so glad she's mine and I don't know what I would do with out her.

Friendly Animals

2009-02-01T16:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Andy actually had a day off that wasn't
a holiday or a sunday!!!! So we decided to have a family day. After we talked the kids into cleaning the upstairs we went to the zoo. Let me tell you I have never seen the animals so active! It was a sorta-warm day and not very crowded a major plus. But the first real active part was the cougars (who are usually just laying in their caves) were tearing apart boxes.Then after a few minutes they swapped boxes. It was so cool!!
After the zebras (Chris's favorites) we went to the giraffes. The trainers were in there with one of the giraffes teaching him to back up. That part was cool, but we were just across from there just watching another giraffe. This giraffe was acting like he was going to come close to us and so Andy raised his hand and just held it there for a second then the giraffe came to his hand and Andy got to pet his nose!!!!! Unfortunately I didn't have my camera out so I didn't get a shot of it. However we went upstairs next and yet another giraffe was acting friendly and he came really close to us I got a picture of this one but we didn't get to pet him. (I didn't have the zoom in with this shot!)

In the snake house the animals were all just hyper I guess because they were running around coming up to the glass. Carter was having a ball.
Then to the gorillas and orangutans, we were inside and I had Carter up against the glass and Eli the huge orangutan came right up to glass so he was like face to face with him. Needless to say Carter freaked. The Chris came around the corner and came face to face with Eli and he jumped it was funny.
So I know this was a really long post but I have never seen the animals like that! It made the zoo so much fun yesterday. Not that the zoo isn't fun every day it was just a nice change

2009-01-14T16:15:00.000-08:00

I guess I am more of a blog reader then writer. Anyways just a recap of my last month. The big thing I guess would be our trip to California. (yes I know that Christmas was big too but this was part of our Christmas). My big brother Ted graduated from test pilot school at Edwards Air Force Base hence the reason for the trip. We figured hey since we are in California go to Disneyland. =) We had a blast and as we were leaving Carter pointed out the window and said "Bye, Bye Dinyan" so freakin cute. Unfortunately Andy could not get the time off work so I went solo with the kids.
The week after Christmas Andy had His "5 day break" so we had a lot of fun hanging out with dad that week but Mom was ready for Jan 5 when Daddy and Gracie went back to work and school.
Jan 6 was Andy's birthday so Happy Birthday Honey!!!
Well there is a recap in a nut shell. Hopefully this year I will be more on top of my blog.
Happy New Year everyone.

2008-12-02T11:47:00.001-08:00

So I haven't blogged in a while. Life has been busy. Before I knew it Thanksgiving had come and gone!! A lot has gone on From a trip to Cowley, Wy to visit my dad and step mom to trying to get my Ushborne Books business going. So on to the present usually I don't put the Christmas decor up until after like the first week of December but for some reason this year I feel festive. So last night we put up the Christmas tree. Man was it fun. Carter loved it, he felt like such a big boy. So now he doesn't understand when we tell him he can't touch the tree. So here is my tree decoarted by a 6, 3, and 1 1/2 year old. Doesn't it look great there are places were there are multiple orniments on one branch. But the kids love it and so do I.

I collect Christmas bears with the year on the foot. so the kids are holding their birth year bear for this pic! Hey if any of you have 1999 that you want to part with let me know I will take it off your hands. I have one for every year we have been married execpt that one.

Halloween Adventures

2008-11-03T20:54:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween!!! From the princess witch, Diego, A bat, A cat, and the post man
Our Halloween festivities start on saturday with our ward party. Gracies disapeared once Devyne got there and then Chris realized he has friends now and so he is too cool for mom now, and then my little mama's boy, Carter, made a new friend. Ross was his buddy that night and he didn't want anything to do with me or Andy. It kind of broke my heart but it was nice to have a little break too. Thanks Ross :)

Carter's new best friend.
Tuesday was Gracie's first grade program it was so cute but I am not a very good photographer so none of my pics turned out :( But she said her part perfectly if I do say so myself.

Thursday was her class party and school parade. I was lucky to be able to go and watch and help in class. Her class is really small so it wasn't that crazy which was awesome cause I've heard horror stories.

Aren't they cute?!

Friday was a very busy day. It started out that morning by going to Grandma Val's to decorate cupcakes the kids dressed up but I didn't want Carter to get his costume dirty that early in the day, so last minute I came up with this outfit. Can you guess who he is?

Lil' Grandpa (Metcalf)

Then we headed up to Coalville to watch my nephews in their school parade. I was able to spend a couple hours with my sisters at the same time it was really fun. I then hung out at my moms house for a little bit until her ward trunk or treat.

Munchen on donuts.

After we hit all the cars there we booked it back to Murray to make it to our ward trunk or treat. Once we hit all those cars we were off again to go trick or treat through the neighborhood. But first we made a pit stop at our house, where we found that some one had kicked in our pumpkins which I think upset me more then the kids how can people (teenagers) be so rude? Anyways back to our candy quest. We started off and went a walking and I'm proud to say we were very successful in gathering our 2 year candy supply. We had a ton of fun and once we got home Andy and I were pooped and of coarse the kids were bouncing off the walls.

Oh how we love Halloween.

17 months and counting...

2008-10-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

So I wanted to post this yesterday but the day got away from me. But I had to mark it! Yesterday was the the 17th, also Carter turned 17 months old! Andy thinks I'm weird cause I had to blog it but I thought it was cute. One more month and he gets to go to nursery:) We are already practicing. So far he likes it. So in light of his 17th month birthday I will tell you 17 words/sounds Carter says.... (* are the ones only mommy understands)

1. Mom 2. Dad 3. Gracie * 4. shoes 5. no 6. ball 7. wee 8. meme* (mema) 9. mama* (grandma) 10. whoa 11. woof 12. raarr 13. papa (grandpa) 14. hi 15. ya 16. please 17. Thank you. He is getting so big I still think of him as my baby but I know hes a big boy.

This picture is his cheese. He knows when I pull out the camera I'm taking pictures and this is the face he pulls cute huh :)

Today's Message is brought to you by the letter T...

2008-10-17T08:36:00.000-07:00

Wendy did this and it sounded like a lot of fun. It was a little harder then I had anticipated but it was still a fun and a good challenge. So here's the deal... I was a assigned a letter and I need to tell 10 thing that I like that begins with that letter. My letter is T... :) I want you to know these are in no particular order as far as favorite and lest favorite.

1. Tom - One of my older brother's name was Tom he was 7 years older then me. When I was seventeen he died in a car accident. What I remember most about Tom is that he was very protective of me even though he teased me none stop, like all my other brothers, I new he loved me and wouldn't let any harm come to me. Christopher, my son, is named after him.

2. Tootsie Rolls - I love them!!! All I can say is yummy.

3 - Teachers - I have to say that once upon a time I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. That lasted through one semester of college. But my very best friend (my Mom) was a teacher and I want to be like her. I also have a few very memorable teachers from my school days that I will always have a special place in my heart. I also know some very awesome teachers now and am glad to call them my friends.

4 - Talents - Although I don't think I could name a specific talent that I want to claim. I love to enjoy other peoples talents. We are all different so it's nice to enjoy other talents that you may not be very good at. As my dear friend Karen said maybe it's a talent to enjoy other peoples talents. I couldn't agree more. ( I like to talk maybe that's my talent?)

5 - Ted - another older brother. He is a great role model and a awesome father. He is a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. I am very lucky to have a such great brother and he has a great wife who I am also lucky to have as sister.

6 - Temples - "I Love to see the Temples! I going there some day. To feel the Holy Spirit to Listen and to Pray. For the temple is a special place, a place of love and beauty." Sorry to rip off the song but that is what comes to mind and I couldn't say it better myself. Temples are wonderful I love to go there and feel close to my Father in Heaven. I am so grateful we live so close to so many temples.

7 - Teenagers - No I don't have any teenagers myself, but I feel that I have 14. For those of you who don't now I am in the young women's program, and I am very fortunate to spend 2 days a week with these awesome girls in my ward. I love every minute I am with them. They are great role models for Gracie. I pray that she will have the strength that these girls have when she gets older.

8 - Television - One way I love to relax is by watching t.v. It clears my mind. Andy hates that fact that I can't go to sleep with out the t.v. on. (Sorry honey) :) He's a good sport though we've learned to compromise. Hello my name is Lori and I'm a TV-a-holic. lol Yes I know it can be a bad habit and I've had to over come it. So now I'm replacing it with reading / books on tape(Cd's)!

9- Technology - Yeeessss I love technology! (ha, ha Napoleon Dynamite joke for Andy) Cell phones, computers, electricity, running water love it all. With 2 brothers and a brother-in-law in the air force I have a lot of family living out of state. And how we can keep in touch with each other is awesome. That is one of the main reasons I started this blog was so that my sisters in law can keep in touch with what the kids are doing. (as far as I know my brothers aren't really into blogging yet)

10 - Testimony - I am where I am today because of my love and knowledge of the Jesus Christ. Because of him I am free to make my own choice and when I make the wrong choice I am know that I can be forgiven. President Monson is a prophet of the Lord and is here to help teach and guide us. With out the church I know I would be lost. I love the church and know that it's teachings are true. I have a testimony of eternal families. I know that if I do what is right and do the best that I can that I will be able to live with my husband and children forever. I know that I will be able to see my brother Tom again. Each day my testimony is growing at the same time it is being challenged and because of that I need to stay close to my Heavenly Father to keep it strong.

So there's my 10. If you want to play post a comment and I'll get you a letter.

Before I sign off I need to mention my other brothers. They are just as awesome even though there names don't start with a T. They are all hero's. I love them and am proud to be their sister. They too have awesome wives that I love dearly. And so I don't get in trouble I have great sisters and sisters -in-law and brothers-in-law too. I don't want to play favorites or anything.

2008-10-13T11:07:00.001-07:00

And one more makes 15!!

I have a new niece!! So that makes my total count at Niece - 15 Nephews - 11. And that doesn't included great niece and nephews and nephew and niece - in - laws.

She was born to my older brother Mike and sister - in - law Cigdem. Her name is Iris Ayca. Born Oct 2 at 9:55 weighing in at 8 lbs 5oz. My brother's family lives in Texas so I haven't seen her yet. I wish I could be there but I can't, so pictures will have to do for now. Look at that hair!! I think thats how much hair Carter has now and he's almost 18 months. I am so happy for my brother and his family I love them and wish them best of luck.

2008-10-09T16:27:00.000-07:00

So I love my kids!! But today I am letting them kill each other. All they do is fight and I am tired of being referee. So today is a free for all. One cute thing hapened today I was on the phone with and Andy and Carter wanted to talk so I held the phone up to his ear and said "Say Hi Daddy" and he actually said "Hi Daddy" twice. I asked Andy if he understood him and he said plain as day so it wasn't just in the Carter language that I only know. Yesterday he pointed to a dog and said woof it was so cute. He is starting to talk and that makes me so happy yet sad because he is getting older. Now if he is anything like his sister the trick will be getting him to stop talking:)