The Domestic Goddess - Ha!

Today, for the very first time ever, I canned peaches! My mom came over and we spent the afternoon peeling, cutting, mixing this and that, boiling water, and this is what we got:

Out of 1 box of big yummy peaches we got 13 quarts of peaches. I can't wait to hear the little "popping" sounds of the jars sealing, and, of course, to open these lovely jars and enjoy the "fruits" of our labors!

Now on to dehydrating these:

I love Fall!

Countdown to girls weekend in DisneyLand

I am so excited! In just under a month I, along with 3 very close friends, am hopping a plane to DisneyLand for some non-stop fun. I can't wait. Isn't my husband the best? Although, he couldn't really say "no" what with his shopping habits and all. I guess his DisneyLand is the deer hunts.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Dedication

Adam and I had a very special opportunity to attend the temple dedication yesterday. We received tickets to go to the temple and attend one of 9 dedicatory sessions. It was such a spiritual experience. I started crying as soon as I got in the temple and didn't stop until well after the session was over. The spirit was so strong inside the temple and re-affirmed my testimony of the importance of the temples. I was so glad I was able to share this experience with Adam. Truly, once in a lifetime.

As Adam and I were walking up the stairs to the 2nd floor, one of the ushers pulled us aside and said he was going to sit us in a special place. He took us into the Chapel and had us sit on the first pew closest to the door. He explained to us that we would be able to see Pres. Monson walk past the door and he said that during the morning session, Pres. Monson stepped into the room and shook the hand of the boy who was sitting where Adam was. Wow! I was excited just thinking I would see Pres. Monson. Adam and I sat in the peace of the temple and when it was time, we stood for Pres. Monson.

Pres. Monson stood in the doorway to wave at all of us in the room and then he saw Adam. He walked right in and up to Adam saying "Here is a future missionary." He took Adam's hand and shook it while telling him he used have the same color hair when he was younger. He also asked Adam if he could wiggle his ears - this while wiggling his own. He then tousled his hair and pulled him in for a hug. It was so neat! I, of course, was in awe of being so close to the prophet. I still get teary-eyed as I sit here typing. It was an awesome moment - one I'll never forget.

Pres. Monson, before he gave the dedicatory prayer, was talking about his various positions in the church. He talked of going behind the "Iron Curtain" and bringing the church to those people. He said "Man's impossibility is but God's Blessing." The dedication was fabulous. The spirit was so strong and after it was over, I told Adam I didn't want to leave. My testimony has been strengthened by this experience. I hope Adam never forgets the feeling he felt while in the temple and the special experience he had with Pres. Monson.

Alex's first day of preschool

It's official.... my baby boy is now a "big boy" or so he tells me. Alex started preschool this week and he absolutely loves it! He goes two days a week and gets so disappointed on the days he doesn't go. He always asks, "Mom, I go to school today?" When I tell him "No" he gets sad and asks when he gets to go again. I am glad he loves it! He puts on his little Spiderman backpack, asks for a mohawk in his hair, puts his shoes on, and away he goes. I can't believe he is old enough to go. To me he is still too little. Now the only thing to figure out is how to spend four hours a week of alone time. Hmmm.....

Seattle ASP course

Can I just say that I love staging! I am so excited to get our business up and running so I can stage more homes. I love helping people get more money on the sale of their home and help them to move on to their next.

In order to stay up on the latest and greatest, I went with my mom to the Seattle ASP stager course taught by Barb Schwarz herself. Barb is the original stager. She came up with the concept of staging and firmly believes in staging as do I. She had such great information to share and I am so glad my mom and I were able to go to the classes. We had a blast!

I love "staging day" the best and this time was no different. It is so much fun to go into a home not knowing what's there, rearrange furniture, change out pictures and accessories, get rid of clutter, and leave the home looking 100% better and ready for sale. The home we went into had started out vacant and the agent had tried to stage it herself. She did an okay job but after we left, the home made sense and looked like a model home. So much fun!

Bedroom #1 Before


Bedroom #1 After


Half Bath Before

Half Bath After

Hall Bath Before


Hall Bath After

Living Room Before

Living Room After

Office Before


Office After


Master Bedroom Before

Master Bedroom After

Master Bath Before

Master Bath After

Which home would you rather buy and live in? Staging Works! Quick Staging tip: Clutter Eats Equity. Pack up all collections, trinkets, out of season clothes, etc. now - you'll be doing it eventually anyway!

"giddy-up"

The other day Alex and I were practicing counting and I decided to go through animal sounds with him as a refresher.

Here is our conversation:

Me: "Alex, what does a pig say?"
Alex: "oink, oink:
"How about a cow?"
"Mooooooo"
"Frog?"
"ribbit, ribbit"
"Dog?"
"arf, arf"
"Cat?"
"meow"
"Horse?"
(pause)....."Giddy-up"

I just love that little boy!

The Joys of Parenting

I love my children but sometimes they can really push me over the edge. Between the whining, crying, tattling, complaining, and tantrum throwing... sometimes I just can't take any more. Today was one of those days. Adam and Abbi started in on each other early this morning and by 9:30 in the morning, I was already forced to referee many arguments over little trivial things. So, since our dishwasher broke (just one of many things gone wrong this week but that is another post), I told them to go down and wash the dishes, rinse them, and put them in the dishwasher - to dry. So, off they run yelling who gets to do what job. Of course, they both choose the same job and yet another argument ensues. I tried to ignore the yelling as long as I could but when I heard a big SLAP and crying, I decided to go investigate. Can you believe it? They are fighting over who gets to wash the dishes. Honestly! So within seconds, Abbi - the slapper- found herself in timeout and Adam - the slappee, but not so innocent- was sent to sit on the couch. Then I had a bright idea! They both were to sit down and write a note to each other. The note had to say what they liked about each other and could be no less than 50 words. I then made them sit facing each other and read the note. Here is what they said:
Adam's note to Abbi:

"What I like to do with you is play outside. The best thing about you is that you help me with some things. Some times I get mad at you but you are my sister. You are the best sister ever. I am sorry I yeld at you. You Rock."

Abbi's note to Adam:

"To Adam, you are good at math and x,+, -. You are good at legos. I im sore that I hit you. How do you bild legos sow fast? You are good at playing socer. You are good at playing baskit boll."

I think it went pretty well.

Sometimes, amidst the hard moments of parenting, I find myself laughing at some of the "punishments" I come up with for my kids. Like the time I tied Adam and Abbi up together and made them make cookies. They could only use the one free hand they had which forced them to work together at measuring ingredients and mixing the dough. Or the time I made them hold hands in the back seat of the car for an extended period of time. And, of course, who could forget the time I made them actually hug one another. Anyone else have any creative punishments? Leave a comment and share. I would love to hear them. I could use a good laugh.

Rafting the Snake River

Aaron and I have often said how much we love our friends and neighbors. They truly are the best and this weekend we had so much fun getting together with some of them to go camping and river rafting down the Snake River in Wyoming. It was a blast! All in all we had 4 families equaling up to 13 kids and 8 adults. So, with that many people there never was a dull moment.

White water rafting down the Snake River was so much fun! The waves were awesome as we traveled through lunch counter and the cottonwoods. Many of our group in the boats were tossed out, shoes, hats, sunglasses, and earrings were lost, but in the end we all were laughing and ready to do it again and again.

We had so much fun, ate yummy food and delicious dutch oven desserts (there is something to be said about cooking food outdoors- it seems to taste better), stayed up late, and laughed and talked with friends. We can't wait to do it again next year.

Abbi's Spring dance recital

I am so proud of Abigail. Anyone who knows her knows she does not like a lot of attention on her and can be quite shy at times. However, when she gets on stage and dances, that all disappears. She did an awesome job at her Spring recital and we are so proud of her. She worked very hard and practiced a lot and she was a dancing star!

Happy Birthday Abbi!

Has it really been 7 years since I sat in the hospital holding my new little daughter? Having you in our family Abbi has been such a blessing. You are so sweet and thoughtful. I love the many drawings and little notes you leave on my bed for me to find with your sweet I love you's and bright colored flowers. You have a bubbly personality and are so much fun to be around and laugh with. Just remember that us girls need to stick together. We love you!

For Abbi's birthday we went shopping for a new bike and I think we found a great one! It is purple, of course, and fits Abbi just right. That night, after opening more presents, we took the whole family to Spaghetti Factory where they sang to Abbi over icecream. And, of course, birthdays are not complete in our house unless we have had several celebrations and Abbi's was no different. She celebrated all week long and received great presents. Can't wait to do it again next year!