Wadell Family Happenings

Valentine's

2012-02-14T06:38:00.000-08:00

So it is SUCH fun having a preschooler for special occasions, like Valentine's! We made play dough hearts for Gabi to give to her Busy Bee preschool friends. I found the cute printable labels here...http://the-wilson-world.blogspot.com/2012/01/play-doh-valentines-with-printable.html

As we were rolling the dough and cutting out the hearts, Gabi said to me that she was having a great time doing this with me. AW! She's my sweetie-pie! She always knows what to say and do to melt my heart! We had great mommy-me time as her older sister was at school and little brother was napping.

This is the best recipe for home made play dough....

2 pkgs. Kool Aid (sugar free)

2 1/2 cups flour (sifted)

1/2 cup salt
3 t. cream of tartar
2 T. oil
2 c water

Mix first four ingredients in a bowl. In a saucepan, bring oil and water to a boil. Mix together by pouring the hot liquid on top of the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Let it cool till you can handle it. Knead until smooth. Store in Ziploc bag.

Can't wait for the preschool valentine party in a few min! Gabi's older sister made origami boxes and put candy inside and decorated the outside to give out to her classmates. Very creative. We thought of other projects, but she has been learning origami (heart, flower, box) in art at school and she decided she wanted to make everyone a box. I got to spend time with her and make a few with her, and that was our fun Mommy-me time, but the other two siblings were there "paper crafting", cutting with scissors and taping things.

Last night we also made and decorated sugar cookie hearts. Fun!

This morning I woke up early and decorated the table (as my annual tradition) and put rose petals on the table, our cards and boxes of chocolates, and red streamers from the light fixture over the table. We were going to make heart-shaped pancakes, but we decided not to and made double-cheese bacon biscuits that we love from Picky-palate.com.

Rach brought juice boxes for her class party and we have the guess how much candy jar, so she brought Valentine M&Ms in a jar for the game. I can't wait to hear how her party goes!

Okay, I'm off to take the preschooler to her party!

Hubby and I have Valentine's EVERYDAY. He is so romantic and sweet and loving. He compliments me everyday, slow dances with me in the kitchen, helps around the house, and is just absolutely wonderful. I love him so very much and feel so blessed to have him. We have a wonderful family.

Happy Valentine's Day friends and family! Hugs to all!

The week of Thanksgiving and all through the house...

2011-11-22T09:22:00.000-08:00

Food. Food is good. Food is fun. Last night I baked zucchini bread with chocolate chips. Turned out fantastic! Crispy on the top, moist in the center. Yum! I didn't take any pictures. But speaking of pictures, I wanted to put some cute ones up of the fam, so I am making this post about my many Thanks. :)

1. I am very grateful for my wonderful family. To be blessed with a wonderful husband. He is my best friend. He is so great to me. I am grateful that he is mine forever. My children, I am blessed to have three. With so many friends of mine that struggle with infertility even after having even one or two children, how their hearts ache for more. I am thankful for our three, whether we keep it three, or also we have talked about adopting others in the future when Jake gets older. I love children. I love that ours are big sweethearts and that I want to be around them. But yes, I feel blessed that I have had the opportunity to be able to carry three.

2. Which reminds me. I am so blessed to be able to stay at home with my kids and raise them, and be around them 24/7. I loved when I did work, and wouldn't mind it if I did again, but I am sure glad that I get to spend this precious time with the kids; they are growing so fast. Being home also allows me to care for the home and develop domestic skills like canning/sewing/menu planning/couponing, etc. I am a work in progress. But I can't wait to see how I end up! (and teaching these skills to my kids as well)

3. I am thankful for my faith in my Lord. Without my faith, I would be lost. Sometimes it is hard for me not to be driven about everytime the media says something. I think I want to go this direction or that direction. I wonder sometimes if I am doing the right things. But when I center myself and pray, I am reminded that my path is the path that gives me peace, that brings a quiet happiness, as opposed to the party lifestyle that the media portrays as being the way towards happiness. I know I have a Father in Heaven, a brother that died on the cross for me, so that I can repent and try again. I am grateful for repentance as it gives me a clean slate, which gives me joy, instead of misery, that I am a horrible person for the things I have done. I also love the eternal perspective that was reminded to me on Sunday in Relief Society, when we discussed how the Lord knows our Spirits, and knew us before we came here, and so we feel bad about ourselves, but our vision is so small about who we really are. It's a beautiful thought, and I love it. I am more than I am now. And God loves all of me. I try to think of that when I am hating on myself.

4. I am grateful that I live in the United States of America. What a blessing! I know it has it's imperfect moments, and right now there is drama, but the fact that I can walk down the street and do what I want, that I can go to what church I want, have what job I want, raise my kids the way I want, marry whom I want... FREEDOM, it's fantastic. I love the American Flag. I love our military fighting for my family's freedom. I am grateful for the protection I have here. I am grateful that our set-up isn't so corrupt, that we can't even trust the police (I'm sure there are bad experiences out there, but for the most part). Anyway, I am glad I get to vote, that there aren't shootings and trampelings and threats and all these problems for who we get to decide who goes into office. I am grateful for a President, not a King, or a Prime Minister. I am grateful we have a checks and balance system. I know the Founding Fathers were inspired, and although they were not perfect, they did their best. I am grateful for freedom of speech. That we don't live in a country that censors what we can see on the internet. I am grateful I can blog about whatever I want. :)

5. I am grateful to have a roof over my head, electricity and running water, clothing, bedding, that I and my family can read and write. I am grateful that we are not starving but can go to the grocery store and basically pick whatever it is we feel like eating.

6. I am MOST definitely grateful for me and my family being healthy. I know this is huge!! The fact that we can see, and walk and hear and are not in a hospital or doubled over in pain, or having to be on any medications. Whenever I do have a problem, I feel such empathy for those who struggle with health problems every single day.

7. So on that I am sorry if I haven't been a better person because of these blessings. I am sorry if I haven't been a better friend, mother, daughter, or person in the community. I am sorry if I hurriedly passed you by if you were in need of a helping hand. I hope to be better, every single day. Please forgive me and know that I am working on being better. Please ask me for help if you need it. I get so caught up in my brain that sometimes I don't really stop and look around. I hope I haven't offended anyone, I really try not to. :) I do put my foot in my mouth from being opinionated.

8. If I know you and you are reading this, I am lucky to know you. Thank you for all that you have done for me or my family. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and know that we are more blessed because of you!

Cheers!

Happenings

2011-06-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Today I am recovering from a Strep infection in my leg, sewing patches on Kev's work shirt (company logo) and trying to sew Rach's dress. Beef jerky is also dehydrating. And awaiting the word from a house we are trying to rent. We hope to get it! When/if we do, we will put up pictures!

Jake dragged a doll stroller upstairs. He is hilarious. Gabi and Rach both have friends over and are about to go swimming. Ahh, summer days!

Quilt

2011-05-22T17:52:00.000-07:00

I also made a couple quilt squares to go to a family in our ward, the daughter has a rare brain cancer and so we all rallied around to do something nice, and (well, there have been tons of things!) but this is one project that I helped work on. I can't wait to see what the final results are with everyone's quilt squares put together!

Beef Jerky and more, oh my!

2011-05-22T17:30:00.000-07:00

So my pictures don't do the things I make any justice, but we sure enjoy eating what is made. The chocolate covered strawberries were made by my husband and daughters for Mother's Day. I was so surprised by their creativity.

The Chicken Black Bean Rice bake was Delish! http://picky-palate.com/2011/04/25/chicken-and-black-bean-green-enchilada-rice-bake/

And the Double Chocolate Oreo Cookies...http://picky-palate.com/2011/04/21/bakery-style-cookies-and-cream-cookies/

And I have a picture of the lemony-cream sauce that went over tortellini, the recipe is here...http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/04/tortellini-spinach-bake-in-creamy-lemon/

Fantastic! I even made this recipe again for a sister in our ward who just had a baby. It's so cool looking and good and looks complicated, but it isn't.

And then I made my family's wonderful Beef Jerky. The marinade is soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, ketchup, pepper, parsley flakes, red pepper flakes, and mash a clove of garlic to sit in the marinade as well. Then throw the thin slices of beef on the dehydrator and let it go until it is yummy, chewy jerky!

I also made salsa this week. I was telling my husband how between the chips and salsa and jerky, they made for wonderful snacks throughout the day, that curbed cravings and were satisfying. The problem is that they were both so wonderful that I would OVER eat them. HA! However, that is what I love about salsa, is that it is fresh ingredients and good for you. If I ate it with lower-sodium chips I bet that would be better for me.

And then my dear husband loves to eat cookies and he just made a wonderful batch this weekend, a classic chocolate chip but he also put in butterscotch chips and toffee pieces and I think he may have put some cinnamon candies in as well. But he made the not our normal chocolate chip recipe batch and he hand mixed it and it called for shortening (which our usual recipe doesn't use), and these came out perfectly crisp and chewy all at once and were big and rich!

He and I joked about opening our own place and calling it Biddles' Belly (Biddles is the nick-name of our son... he is a year old and walks with it stuck out and I just don't want him to loose that cute little pouch!). I enjoy having a husband that can cook. He likes to break the rules though, and that drives me crazy. He will make simple things like oatmeal, and not follow the recipe, so it doesn't always work... ha! But on things he CAN get creative on, he does a great job! Happy cooking!

Dehydration

2011-04-19T20:02:00.000-07:00

So I guess I didn't take a picture of my corn... but I've done peas, corn, broccoli, carrots and today, mushrooms. So cool!! The carrots, that is a pound of frozen crinkle cut carrots, reduced to that amount in the jar. LOL!

My mom came to visit and has been showing me about dehydration from a YouTube video that a lady at dehydrate2store.com puts out there. She's amazing! I need to link her! Anyway, I was so impressed with how much I can store now without taking up so much space! My mom got me a yummy book called Dinner Is In the Jar, and it has cool recipes that are just about dumping from a jar or mylar bag and then adding water and maybe a meat or canned tomatoes or something, and that's it. It's cool for a delicious meal prepped fast.

So I will take pictures of the jars I make with my meals in them. My friend, Jen, inspired this as well, only she goes to those places you prepare a month of meals at a time and then store them in the freezer. These meals don't have to be stored in the freezer, and can last probably 20 years! I'm very excited!

Also, I'm anxious to expand my food storage. I went to help out at the Bishop's Storehouse and I bought some oxygen absorbers and before I left the guy working asked if I had my year supply of food. I said I was working on it, told them about the dehydration, etc. He said with the price of gas going up, that prices at the cannery were going to keep going up as well. (And they try so hard to NOT increase the prices until they absolutely have to). He was saying it is like the parable of the 10 Virgins. The 5 who were wise, had their food storage. The 5 who were foolish, waited until last minute, went out to start doing it, and the prices had gone up and so they couldn't afford to do their storage, therefore didn't have it. I thought it was interesting.

I also read an article about how an earthquake can displace water in wells (etc.) throughout the rest of the world and how in 1992 there was an earthquake in the states that ended up drying up local wells within 3 months. I'm totally butchering this quote, and I am looking for the link and it isn't up on the main USGS.gov site right now, but I could dig. Anyway, it spooked me because I don't want to have some earthquake in Alaska make it so I can't have drinking water here because it shifted it out of our wells/pipes/reservoirs, etc. So I am trying to get more bottled water stored for a just in case thing.

Oh and then Kev and I have been watching the show The Philanthropist on Hulu. It was only 8 episodes and got cancelled but it opened my eyes about ethical international business, and conditions around the world. The last one was about Haiti and it said that kids were eating cookies made of dirt/sand/oil/and salt... and I just thought, ack! (And the people were in huge lines for just a bowl of rice to feed them for that day and they usually wait in line for 3-4 hours) So I want to do what I can so that my family doesn't have to rely on government hand-outs if ever there was a problem. Now, obviously, like with the tornadoes that have happened lately, if my home got destroyed, well, at least I knew I was doing my best. But if something happened to where the government couldn't get help here and I was stuck in my home, I would be happy I had stuff on hand. Or I could help out neighbors or whatever. Anyway, I just want to be part of the solution, not the problem, as I got quoted from my parents, who are doing their CERT training. (Which I just signed Kev and I up to do, which starts in September).

But yes, the dehydration stuff... I looked into the diff of freeze dried vs. dehydration, and it says that freeze dried foods have better taste, but still weighs a little more than dehydrated. And freeze dried is more expensive, and you can't do it at home. My veggies are going to end up in soups and sauces and things that will be taking on additional flavors, so I am not too concerned if my foods don't have a super strong flavor, as long as we get the roughage and vitamins, I'm okay with it. :) But I've already had some meals my mom made as dinners in a jar (just had one tonight) and it turned out yummy! And she used dehydrated carrots and things in hers. The veggies come out beautifully colorful when hydrated again. So to me, the fact that I can do this at home, that it is literally just taking foods like peas out of the freezer and onto the dehydrator tray and then drying them about 10 hours and then putting them in a jar with an oxygen absorber, and viola, I have veggies for the next 20+ years, I'm very happy with that. So thanks for buying a new dehydrator mom, so I could have your old one. Ha!

My Enchalito Casserole, so Fab!

2011-04-04T18:33:00.000-07:00

This dish just happened to surprise me.

Make ahead- 1 package Knorr Taco Rice, it cooks for 7 min in microwave.

Mix 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

1 small can green enchilada sauce

1 1/2-2 cups sour cream

Layer on bottom of 8x8 pan

Then tear 5 corn tortillas (I like white corn) in pieces and layer on sauce

Then sprinkle some cheddar cheese.

Then add a layer of taco rice.

Next add another layer of sauce.

Then tortillas, etc, keep layering.

After done, there should be sauce as final layer.

I added crushed up Fritos on top for fun and I had some cilantro laying around and added some of that throughout. It was SOO yummy. My 10 year old had 3 helpings and wanted it for lunch the next day. (And she had it!)

Mama Tiffany's Chicken Cacciatore

2011-04-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

Mushrooms

Chicken Breast, chopped and sauteed in onion and garlic, till no pink

More garlic

1 can diced tomatoes

Artichokes from can, cut down a bit or separated out

Parsley flakes

Garlic salt, Seasoned salt, pepper

Could add water, or tomato sauce or a touch of cooking wine. Serve over any type of noodles you prefer. So yummy!

If I did this vegetarian style, I would take out chicken and add zucchini and maybe get button mushrooms and leave whole instead of sliced. Who knows. But it's fun to create!

The Birthday Girl!

2011-03-18T05:27:00.000-07:00

Gabs had her 4th birthday party at the park on Wednesday and it was really fun. They day was overcast and breezy but then went to a partly cloudy afternoon. We did the party in the morning, but it went well! We had lots of friends come since it was Spring Break. Gabby got lots of nice presents, with jewelery, purses, webkinz animals, bubbles, etc. We got her a little tennis racquet and some tennis balls. She will get the rest of her gifts on her birthday day, Saturday, from the grandparents and such. Thanks to everyone who made it a special day!! We have great friends! Gabs is very happy.

Also, I like to spell her name as Gabby now, but then Kev has just told me that he likes the way we were spelling it, Gabi, and has been teaching it to her. So then I wrote both down and asked which she liked, and she pointed to the one I like, but now, she knows how to write her 'i' and likes to write her name with an i. So I have no idea how her name is going to be spelled and so I will spell it lots of different ways until she finally decides which way she likes it, and then I will let everyone know. Funny.

Pie for you, pie for me

2011-03-18T05:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the wonderful website www.ourbestbites.com, I was told by my friend Jennifer about this site and the Pies-in-a-Jar recipe. Super fun!! Jen and I were supposed to make these together but her son was sick, so I went ahead and made 7 blackberry pies. The kids and I ate them as after school snacks, they were yummy! The only thing I did wrong was not add as much sugar to the filling as I thought it was going to be too sweet. After I was eating the pie I realized how pie filling and jams/jellies, are just fruit and sugar. Ha! So yeah, next time, keep the right amount of sugar. It wasn't bad, but blackberries can be really tart and the sugar helps with that. I used 3 cups of blackberries. I used my Grandma Virginia's yummy crust recipe, which is with vegetable oil. She doesn't put sugar in it, and I add sugar because I like a sweeter crust. I also doubled the crust recipe since I wasn't sure how much I would need. I didn't follow ourbestbites.com really, I just used it for the cooking time, etc.

So I have two left in the freezer, since Kev was out of town during the creation, and so we will eat them next week. These are super cute for gifts! Oh, and I got the half pint jars at HEB with the lids and all, 12 jars for $6.77. I thought that was a good deal. I LOVE HEB!

The most work for this recipe is lining the jar with the crust. I was also doing other things during this process, but it seemed that was where a lot of energy went. But I would still do it again. In fact, I plan to as I have pear pie filling my Bishop's wife gave to me that she canned lasted summer. I also didn't mention the great feature that the pie just slides right out of the jar onto a plate, it was easy to eat and clean! And you don't have to grease the jar, the oil from the crust makes it not stick.

Baked Potato Farmer Casserole

2011-03-08T18:39:00.000-08:00

Before and After baked pictures... Yum.

This is my creation but with inspiration from the Better Homes and Garden Cookbook. I love that thing!

I am not going to put exact measurements on this recipe at the moment...

2 or 3 Cups Ore-Ida Hash Browns Southern Style, Thawed/steamed... enough to line bottom of pan (I used 8x8 for our family).

3-4 eggs beaten with a half to 3/4 cup milk mixed in. Add pepper and sea salt 1/2 tsp+). In fact, I added the salt on top of the potatoes first. Then added some to the egg mixture. The egg/milk mixture is fun to mess with as it makes the egg more fluffy and less dense when more milk is used, so I like adding more to it.

Pour egg mixture over potatoes.

Add Oscar Meyer Real Bacon Bits, enough to your liking.

Grated Cheddar cheese. Then I added crumbled Feta cheese. That is a fun flavor enhancer!

Then chopped green onions to top with.

Bake 350 for 35 min, but check on it and make sure it looks done and cheese is bubbly. I also don't like my eggs cooked hard or scorched brown, so I baby mine and check on egg type dishes regularly. In fact, whenever I bake now, I just leave the oven light on the whole time. Now I just need an eye-level oven!!

The combinations for this casserole are endless. Obviously, avacado, cilantro, salsa, green chilies, sour cream, olives, ham, you name it, could be added before/during/after. I LOVE casserole. I was also wondering about if I fried up my hash browns before lining the pan for a bit of crispness... not that the extra oil is needed, but yum, I bet that would be a tasty way to do this as well.

And the fun thing about this is it can be made (not baked) ahead of time and then when ready, remove from fridge and just throw it in the oven for 10-15 min longer.

Enjoy!

Black Forest Lava Cake

2011-02-18T18:02:00.001-08:00

So this picture doesn't do it justice, but if you love cherries and chocolate, this is an awesome recipe!

4 tablespoons Butter

1/3 cup white sugar

3 eggs (beaten in their own bowl)

1 tablespoon vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup flour

1 1/3 cups bittersweet chocolate chips (I like Ghiradelli)

Preheat oven to 400.

Spray or butter and sugar (sprinkle to coat) muffin pan (6 or 7 muffin cups).

In my Kitchen Aid, I cream butter and sugar. Add beaten eggs. Add the vanilla, then salt. Add flour. Melt choco chips in bowl in 30 second intervals until completely melted. Add into batter and mix until blended. (Just a few seconds in the Kitchen Aid). Pour into the prepared muffin pans. Bake 8-10 min. 8 minutes seems to work great for me.

The pictures I took, I did not have my cakes turned over to look more like a mountain, but however you want to serve it, (even serving them baked in ramkins is great), dust with powdered sugar. Add cherries (cherry pie filling), and can use whipped cream, piped in for added decor/flavor. (Black Forest Cakes definition are cherries, whipped cream, and chocolate cake). I liked just having the powdered sugar. I wish I took a picture of the nice oozy center. These turned out fantastic!! I. ate. two. Ha!

Another thought was to put some cherry pie filling into the muffin pans and THEN the chocolate cake and then bake, turn it over and have the yummy cherries on top, baked into the cake. So I will try that next time. Anyway, this recipe is super fast and easy. The longest part is the melting of the chocolate chips, but totally worth it, as you get to lick the spatula after... yum!

Food

2011-02-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

So I decided to go the food direction and post foods I've made or created on here, because I realized I am pretty passionate about it, I just really enjoy putting flavors together, so why not! And I have REALLY been enjoying the other food blogs I've been reading. It's been so inspiring.

The bad thing is, either I need to take a photography class or a different camera. I tried taking a picture of the creamy artichoke dip I made, and with the flash, it made the food all washed out. So bummed! Anyone have any tips??

So this week I made white wheat bread, salsa verde, artichoke dip, bruschetta, and now I'm going to make molten lava cakes. I have an idea for the lava cakes but first I want to try the regular recipe and then see if my idea works in the next batch. Fun to create! I'll let you know how it turns out. So yeah, bummer about not being able to post the pictures of what I've made so far...

Here is another website that I just discovered that is super cute! If you know anyone that loves food, this site is great for gift giving and having little boutique type items... http://foodzie.com/.

I will keep you posted on my lava cakes.

Okay I'm updating!

2011-01-19T09:34:00.000-08:00

Hola~ There have been happenings! We went on a cruise to the Caribbean that Kev got through APX. It was fun. We took the kids and it was really nice. Then we came back and enrolled Rach in school so that she could have more socialization. I thought we would be doing more with other homeschoolers, but with Jake's nap schedule and stuff, it wasn't working out. Also, our little girl neighbors moved in Oct and so then Rach was really out of it, especially after volleyball ended. So I was like, okay, I got to spend a semester with her, I feel like we got what we needed out of homeschooling for now so let's put her back in. Not to say we won't ever do it again. In fact, I am thinking that when Gabs is in Kindergarten and Jake is Gabi's age, Rach will be in Jr High and it would be fun to have her out with me during that crazy transitional time. We'll see.

So here we are in January, back from the fabulous cruise and getting in the routine of things. Kev is, at this moment, back in CA doing our rock chip repair business and doing fantastic. So this is the sad thing is that we are most likely moving back to CA when our lease is up, end of July. We love it here in Austin, but our business is really successful out there, so why not keep it going?! It's most entreprenuer's dream to have a successful business and work the schedule around however you want and Kev totally has that. So yeah. Unless some other thing occurs, we will be heading back. It isn't horrible, because we have all our same friends and family there, so it will be nice. It's just hard to part with this wonderful community we have met here! But we are a pretty fluid family and adjust easily.

Anyway, Kev wants to go back to school and he also wants to get his insurance certification as well. He has always been interested in the insurance world. All our journeyings have been good to help Kev figure out what he wants to do for his life and realizing the blessings he has, etc. All of our travels have helped us get closer as well.

I'm also trying to figure out the direction of this blog. I have seen some fantastic blogs. Do I want to go informational (become another cooking blog since I love to cook)? Do I want to go opinionated (share my thoughts of what I have read, current events, etc)? Do I want to keep this more as a public journal and throw my soul out there? Stay tuned. Ha! Or maybe it will be all of it!

I also just wanted to post on here how I'm grateful for being here in Austin because without this move here, I wouldn't have met the Carlson family, the Hall family, the Zivics, Adamsons, Howas, Laura Moore, and others I am not naming because it could go on and on. But those of you who may end up reading this, know that I love you whether I named you or not! Thanks for everything you have taught me, the interests you have shared and inspired in me, the kindness you have shown to our family. This has been a wonderful time in our lives! We are truly blessed and I hope that our friendships can continue to grow no matter where we are at in this world. And of course being closer to Kev's siblings has been a plus, so Lisa, it's been fun getting to know you more since this whole time, we never got a chance to hang and get to know each other very well and now we have. I hope that relationship can continue to deepen. Especially since you are stuck with me for eternity. ha!

Oh, and those that are affected by the floods in Austrailia, Brazil, Phillipines, and S. Africa, you are in our prayers.

Happy New Year, everyone! It's going to be great.

October... My favorite time of year!

2010-10-15T11:01:00.001-07:00

It's been great with the homeschooling. We are enjoying our time together and Rach is learning a lot. I am loving learning again about the US History and the subjects of plants and insects and things from her science class. Also, with Language Arts, I am re-learning how to write correctly as I think with texting and being super casual in email, I forget where my commas need to go sometimes! Rach is also in volleyball- the Dragons! And they have won some and lost some. It's been fun to watch Rach as she is doing fantastic!!

Gabi is enjoying our sandbox at our volleyball pit. She also has learned to petal her tricycle! I can't believe how fast she is growing. She is very complimentary and tells us she loves us all the time and kisses us on the arm or leg or cheek- whatever she can get ahold of.

Jake is pulling himself up on everything, climbs up the first two stairs, (so we have to block them!) and eats many things. He loves electronics as he loves to chew on the phone and wii remote! He says Dada and Mama, but he only says mama when he is crying for me to get him. :)

Kev has adventured in solar sales. He has been training the past couple of weeks and this Saturday he gets his very own appointment. We can't wait! He is enjoying learning about the solar industry and what it is all about. There are so many avenues; so it is neat as this has opened a whole new world for him!

I have been enjoying learning about cake decorating! I am looking forward to my next classes so that I can make some really fun things.

I am also busy planning Rach's 10th birthday party and looking forward to my parent's visit here. We are looking forward to showing them the area and a day in the life of us!

The weather has been perfect here! I can't believe it. I love being outside and feeling the cool gentle breeze.

And I'm also getting all of our passports together for us to take a trip to the Eastern Caribbean over New Year's! This is with APX like our Cancun trip. It's perfect because SolarTek shuts down for the holidays and so Kev can take off and it won't affect anything!

Time to go outside and enjoy the weather...

Hot Summer

2010-08-10T19:58:00.000-07:00

Today was very hot, well, it's been hot. I can't believe it is August 10th already. Kev only has 7 more Saturdays of selling. Which speeds us up to October. Crazy. So we swam with our friends Eva and her children, Alfred and Hanna. It was so cute because Alfred doesn't know English, he speaks cute Swedish, and so his mom taught him how to say "Stop it", because I guess the girls were doing something (they were all having a blast, so maybe it got to be too much?) but it was hilarious because he was so intense in saying it. And so he would run up to the pool and say "STOP IT!" So strong. And then later Gabi was doing something and he would run up and say "Stop It, Gabin!" I loved it! I told Eva, we need to teach him another phrase, like, "I like you". ha! Anyway, so the kids had fun and Eva and I had fun chatting it up. They left about 4:30 (oh and you can see pics on her blog because I forgot my camera), and then the sister missionaries came over for dinner at 5:30.

Dinner was homemade pizza and salad and fruit. Rach made cinnamon roll-ups for dessert. I think dinner turned out terrible! My pizza had an odd taste, like fermented stuff, and I put on zuccini that we shredded before for zuccini bread, so I'm wondering if it was that, but I smelled it before using it, so yeah, I am not sure. Of course the sisters said it was fine. And then the salad, my salad dressing or something was off, I made my usual vinagrette and I don't know. And then the watermelon I had just bought today was bruised and stuff (went to Walmart instead of H-E-B!) So I was like, you guys, I'm so sorry. You have to come back again, and I hope you'll want to and not dread Sis Wadell's cooking. They were laughing. We also had new neighbors moving in so they went to talk to them when they left. I told them how I have the Preach My Gospel book and how I am still in the beginning because I am marking like, every scripture, and they were like, yeah, skip ahead to the lessons. So I am gonna do that! And this just in, Jake went from laying down to sitting up on his bottom tonight. First time. It was amazing!

It's over for the Summer Reading program at the library. We had a great time with it. Last year the Cedar Park library had more toys/goodies. This year, we were at the Round Rock library and there were just gift coupons to get free kids meals or doughnuts or frozen yogurt, etc. So we have had fun with it! Nice afternoon treats thanks to the kids doing reading, which they enjoy and do every night anyway.

We are now a part of the Royal Academy Homeschool group and they told us about a camping trip that a big group does, so we are going to do that the last week of this month, and I'm very excited! We stay in cabins, we get to swim and hike and do crafts and yeah, cell phones won't work and they say no electronics. It's gonna be amazing to be together without this stuff.

2010-08-02T08:03:00.000-07:00

Just some cute pics... Gabi and Rach and Brooklyn swimming at Barton Springs. Grandma and the cousins. Rach and Jake. Rach and Gabs with BFF Olivia and Isabel when we went to CA in June. Rach looking beautiful with the every cheesey Gabs!

August Already!

2010-08-02T07:19:00.000-07:00

So it's August. And I've decided it's official: I'm going to Homeschool Rach for 4th grade and do some preschool work with Gabs. I know it seems like a big undertaking but I have been wanting to do this for the past few years and now we are in a great commnity where there is a lot of support and a lot of great programs.

I will be using the ABeka Academy program and Math U See. I'm really excited. I ordered some fun history and science books and so yeah, I think it's going to be a great year! ABeka has online streaminig of lectures. They have previews and so the teachers look great! We are also going to do Rosetta Stone Spanish. It feels so good to take education into my hands. (Who knew I was such a control freak?!) But I'm excited about the history lessons and the science projects. The group we are with here has a sewing class where the woman has 4 sewing machines, so I am going to get Rach in that.

I will be able to have Rach watch a short lecture video while I go over letters and other preschool teaching moments with Gabi. On another blog, confessionsofahomeschooler.blogspot, she has an excel spreadsheet of their daily/weekly calendar. So I have that now and so each week I will have it put up so that the girls can see what we are going to be working on. I also like the workboxes she talks about and I will wait for the curriculum I ordered to come in the mail so that I can make plans with the workboxes.

I know Jake will be getting more active, I am loving it! I know that we will have to all be flexible, but I really see this system working pretty good! Also, there are good free apps that Kev has on his phone like memory and flashcards that Gabs like to do, so we can have her doing that when Rach is doing something with me. Rach is full of ideas and wants to do things like make bread like the pioneers (not in the bread machine, lol!) and so it is great to have her ideas and into this as well. She also has met lots of friends at church. She has Heidi, Alexia and Melanie. It is awesome! Prayers were sure answered for us!! I hope the girls can stay close and enjoy each other at church. I wonder what our callings will be when we get them, I was thinking Primary because it's so big. But yeah, I used to be able to see Rach's interactions with the other kids in her Primary class in Rocklin, and here I haven't been able to see how she is with the kids, but she comes home happy and fine. In Rocklin there was already a clique. I think Brushy Creek ward is nice because there are a lot of commings and goings and so the kids lose that clique stuff.

I'm excited we will be here in the Fall, when Kev is done with APX so we can do things around here that we didn't get the chance to do last year. We plan to go to SeaWorld and see the bats and stuff as part of science field trips.

Last night we had dinner with our new friends, the Carlssons. They are from Sweden and so it is very interesting to talk to them. We met them at our other apartment complex as our apartments faced each other and we'd be at the pool around the same time. They are only here until February for Richard's work, and then they go back. We are really looking forward to getting to know them more! I will have to upload some pictures of the kids playing later! It was funny because before they came over for dinner, Rachael was wondering how they would play with their 3 year old, Alfred, because he only speaks Swedish. But we discovered (I told her this would happen) that "kids play" is the international language! I think the kids had a great time! I made lemon-pepper talapia, ceasar salad, fruit salad, wild rice and rolls. And Eva brought a yummy sticky chocolate cake with fresh figs and raspberries and whipped cream. Yum!

Eva has inspired me to get more caught up on our blog! So here I am, back in action. Nothing too eventful has been happening. Just Kev works long hours, but is making the moola to pay off debt, so that is great! We miss him though, since he works 6 days. Also, it's fun to be in the same complex as Lisa, Erik and Kyson. It's nice the cousins get to play and us adults get to get closer.

Until next time!

Austin and such

2010-05-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

Holy cow time flies! I can't believe it is almost June. Sorry my wonderful public for letting you down. Ha!

We moved from El Paso and are now in Round Rock, Tx, which is north of Austin about 20 min. I LOVE it here. The people are great, the weather is great and it is just an all around nice place!

I thought I would type more but my husband just walked in the door. He is selling for APX again and doing great! It is such a blessing because my prayer is that we pay off our debt!

Jake is 4 months now and is over 18lbs and 25 1/4 inches long. He's so much fun! Rach has her last day of 3rd grade tomorrow and she is on the honor roll. And Round Rock has an AMAZING school district, so we'll see what else it can do. But then, now that we're back in Tx with lots of cool homeschooling families, I'm on that journey again of if I want to do that with Rach. So I need to keep doing research and praying. I want what's best and what isn't gonna drive us nuts. Gabs is doing great and we love the library and she is looking forward to Preschool. I mainly want to do that for the social aspect, but then, if I find other moms with kids her age if I go the homeschool route, maybe there is a homeschool preschool group? I heard of something like Joyschool or something, so I gotta look into that. Groups of moms that rotate around. So yeah, lots to look into. If anyone has any thoughts to share about this, I'd love to hear.

I have a pressure cooker now and I just ordered my canning set from Amazon. I can't wait to make my own jams and tomato sauce etc. Oh and from the garden I had started in El Paso, since we are here in an apartment, I just have a tomato and cabbage plant growing. Ha!

Until next time!

The Kids

2010-03-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

So here is a recent pic of Gabs and Jake. Jake is now 7 weeks old and Gabi is going to be 3 next Friday!! I know I haven't even posted on here about Jake's birth. It's been a wild and crazy time with moving to El Paso right after he was born! El Paso has been great. Rach is doing wonderful in school and has great friends. She is a social butterfly!

Gabi has made friends with our friends that is a family of girls. They (the Lunds) have twin girls who are 3, so it's perfect for her! She loves to play dress up and polly pockets. She absolutely loves her Barbies! She has got a wonderful imagination.

Jake is just a BIG boy. I never imagined him going through clothing so fast. He is wearing size 3-6 month clothing! I'm so grateful for our friends that gave us all their old boy clothing!! It has really been helpful.

Kevin is doing well selling alarms out here. He enjoys working for Dorney. They are a nice family owned company and we are all in the same ward and it is nice. Oh, and being out here, we just got called as Ward Employment Specialists. Funny. Hopefully we can help!

Also we are working on our food storage and 72-hour kits and my mom has sent me so great links. This one has a nice list that helps it get organized of what one could have in their pantry. I like it because I forget what I have or like to cook with and so seeing this list on http://www.theprudenthomemaker.com/ helps me remember what else I need/want.

I will be starting a garden soon so I will upate this with pics of it as it gets going. I am curious to see how well it does here in El Paso! :) There are monsoons and things that I have never had to deal with so it will be interesting!!

Baby Shower!

2010-01-10T07:42:00.001-08:00

My baby shower, planned by my great friend Stephanie, turned out so nice! I am really blessed with great friends and family. Stephanie planned a couple of games, the Baby Alphabet game and then measuring my waist with a ribbon. Our friends Kelly and her daughter won the alphabet game and Lindy won the ribbon game. It was a lot of fun! Then the food was amazing as Stephanie cooked a ton and then others brought some yummy salads! (I didn't catch who all made the salads! sorry!)

The gifts were great, Jake is totally set! I had a great time seeing everyone and I sure hope Jake comes soon. I know everyone is anxious to meet him! I've got about a week to go! Crazy.

Almost Thanksgiving!

2009-11-22T14:09:00.001-08:00

Wow! Thanksgiving is this week!! I have so much to be thankful for!

I'm grateful for my sweet, hardworking husband. He does all he can for our family and I have been able to stay home and be with our children and keep house and bake and sew! It's truly a blessing. This has been an interesting year, a financially tumultuous year, but amazingly, we are keeping our heads up. God has been great to us and we have had many tender mercies!

Rach just ended her soccer season and I'm glad for the freedom of time we have been given once again. Especially now that I am nearing the end of the pregnancy and getting more uncomfortable. HA! Rach's team, the Blue Angels, just won their last game. It was a sweet victory in the fact that the team hadn't won a game all season... they did tie a couple though. I heard from another parent that the Blue Angels did so well last year that they moved them up a division this year. I'm not sure if that is true, but they were saying that may be the reason that the girls were struggling. Rach played goalie and forward and was good at those. We are still trying to figure out if we should keep her in soccer. She enjoys it. That's good. But I don't see her trying to excel in it, which, I rather her be in something that she can be passionate about. But since she's enjoying it, and it's a nice way to meet new girls and get exercise, I think, why not just keep her in it. How does one decide on things like this?? I think she will want to keep playing because her friends do.

We also just had her Parent Teacher Conference for the first trimester and she is doing very well. That was exciting to hear. She got a lot of certificates for her reading, she is top in the class in her reading level and how much she reads. I'm proud of that since I love to read, it's nice to know I passed that on. Rach is also doing excellent in piano. It is exciting to me to watch her fingers move across the keyboard, to see her talent growing. And she is loving her horseback-riding! She loves taking care of them and being out there on the ranch. I hope she can always have this opportunity because it is good for her. I don't see her pursuing anything serious in the horse riding, like competing or anything, but just going there and taking care of them, I think she just enjoys that.

Gabs is 2 and a half now and jabbering like crazy. Very imaginative. She loves pretending things. She is into Barbie, My Little Ponies, and dress up. She likes to play the piano too. If it's Rach's turn to practice, Gabs yells, "It's my turn, it's my turn!" and jumps into the seat. So then she plays all crazy and then quickly gets off. She also plays for us at FHE, and so we just sing something to her playing, like I'm a Child of God. I can't wait for her to be in lessons in a few years! Rach and Gabs play great together and it is fun to watch them. Rach makes some great costumes for Gabs. For one FHE a couple weeks ago, we talked about wearing the Armor of God and Rach made one for Gabs out of tissue paper and foil. Pretty funny. I gotta get the picture up here.

Baby Jake is growing well and kicking and having fun in my tummy. I'm at less than 60 days now. It's fun to think of him being here so soon. We're all very excited. I finished a couple of quilts for him, I'm excited about that. My mom is going to help make the bumpers and curtains to go with one of the quilts. I like that we are designing his nursery instead of just getting a pre-packaged one from Babies R Us. No big deal about those, I just like the fact that we can say, we did that, and that the blanket will stay with him forever. :)

I/we have been richly blessed and for that I am so THANKFUL! I just wanted to make sure that I said my thanks. I am grateful for our health, (this one thing I have been really thinking about lately, I have really taken health for granted!) and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and eternal families. I'm grateful for my calling in Primary, I love the children we have. I'm grateful for our families and our friends and our home.

If I've ever offended anyone or hurt anyone's feelings, I apologize and I pray that we can all become closer. Life is short and precious. I'm grateful to you all for being a part of our lives. We have learned much. Happy Thanksgiving!

Baby Jake

2009-10-23T14:59:00.001-07:00

It has definitely been a long time since I have been on here. I guess there isn't that much interesting when a pregnancy is just beginning. Now I'm almost in my 7th month, it's starting to hustle! My mom gave me a wonderful present for a Mommy/Daughter date and we got to get more ultrasound pictures of Jake. I only had 3 given to me at my 20 week and they weren't good shots at all. Now that I have these new pics, I am really enjoying the pregnancy and fantasizing about life with a new baby boy. It was hard for me to be excited about him and now he seems more real with these pics.

I will post more of our happenins in a bit, but just wanted to get these pics of Jake up! Only a few more months!!

more pics

2009-06-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

Playing "ring around the rosie" with Peyton at our pool and playing at the water park near our apt.

and other thoughts...

2009-06-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

So it's officially June! Let the season begin! Austin has proven great for alarm sales, so that is wonderful. They have been working in Kileen (I think that is how you spell it.)

We love the library here in Cedar Park and go pretty regularly. Great childrens programs and next week starts the summer reading program that Rach is looking forward to.

I have been checking out all kinds of books on canning and preserving. Our ward here has a berry order from a farm in Oregon and so I am going to attempt to make blackberry and maybe another kind of berry like loganberry, jam. I already made refridgerator pickles and they were a recipe from a magazine, and they are the sweet kind. Not bad because I needed extra brine so I didn't add as much sugar, so they aren't as sweet as they could be, and since we all prefer dill, they are still good. I found some dill recipes so I am going to try dill next.

We also get to order tomatoes and other veggies, so I am going to order tomatoes and see if I can do my own diced tomatoes and such and jar those. That would save so much money as I am always cooking with stewed tomatoes. (chicken curry, anyone?)

I have also decided (not crazily) but we are gonna go non-dairy. My friend here has a sister that they own a cow because they have six kids and wanted to save on milk costs. So I started researching about owning our own cow and how cows produce milk, etc. So I got on some sites and basically you have to keep your cow continally having babies to keep producing milk, and all these other horrible things that I was like, ya know, we don't need to drink milk. Or eat cheese. (sob!) but yeah, it was talking about how many people have allergies to milk, that we are the only species that drink milk of another species and into adulthood, etc. I began thinking that I don't want to harm cows and I want us to be healthy, and soy is good for us. We've already been drinking soy milk (Silk) along with regular milk, but I never made the full fledge switch because I wondered how it would be with cereal, etc. Well, it works just fine. The only thing I am not sure of is with baking. But I do have powdered milk... which still comes from cows. I also looked into using margarine more so that I don't need butter. And I'm gonna have to try some soy cheese pretty soon.

But like I said, our family isn't going crazy over it. It's not like if we go to someone's house we're gonna be like, we can't eat that. No prob (unless after not eating it we get sick when we DO eat it or something), but yeah, I'm not gonna get all crazy, I just want to do my part to help out out there.

With my research on margarine, I wiki'd it and saw that it was banned in the US and other places for YEARS because of the Dairy industry because they didn't want it to affect them. I learned a lot about that in my marketing classes, how certain foods or products are used or not used because of people/groups lobbying, etc. It's kinda scary how much power is out there to affect what we can or cannot have. Anyway, now margarine is back (basically thanks to the wars, because of rationing dairy) and so here it is.

So we'll see how this goes. :)

The pictures I posted are Kev cooking in our new apt here in Cedar Park, Tx. and then our new black kitten, Romeo, cuddling to Big Fluff. They totally get along, which is a shock because Big Fluff didn't get along with Jackson. It's cute to watch them lick each other, etc. It's fun to have a kitten in the house again. He's about 6 months now. We also have our family pic at Disneyworld, which was tons of fun right before we moved here, and Kev and Gabs snuggling on the couch.

Expecting!

2009-05-21T14:22:00.001-07:00

For those of you who don't know... We are expecting Wadell #3!! Due January 18th, we are all very excited!! Rach wants another girl, everyone else is telling me I'm going to have a boy, and I at the moment, have no feeling one way or the other, which is hard, because with Gabi, I KNEW it was going to be a girl. (and I always thought people that *knew* were nuts!)

So yeah, I'm a whole 5 weeks along and I fly back to Sac in June for my first prenatal appointment.

Oh yeah, so we were in Orlando for a whole month and the selling stunk out there, so we wrapped up the office there and moved it to Austin. It's WONDERFUL here, we love it. The sales are still up in the air as they just started yesterday, but we, as a group, love the city and people and weather. We are in Cedar Park and if we ever decide to leave Rocklin, this place comes in next of where we'd settle. We went to the local grocery and I had a note left on the car about WELCOME to Texas. I thought that was sooo sweet!!

So this is the latest haps on us. I need to get some pictures from our other comp and upload them here, but to see the apartments, we are in www.verdebrushycreek.com. Really nice.

Also, Rach is LOVING homeschooling. We are enjoying it and are glad to be doing it. Especially with the moving around so much. But it is just nice for the sense of control of what Rach is learning. And it doesn't have to be lame busy work, it is just straight to the point. So we are doing multiplication, and she writes me poems and we read poetry and history stories, read from Highlights magazine, and then there are the What Every 2nd Grader (etc.) Needs to Know... and that is a great book too. So we go over art lessons. Like we were discussing landscapes. I'm enjoying learning/relearning right along side her. Then I give Gabs some paper and she likes to color and "do her homework" too. :) Gabs is doing well with her colors and counting.

Let's keep praying for much success for Kev!

on our way...

2009-03-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

So first stop on our way to Florida is Santa Ana to visit the grandparents, then to Mesa, then to Thatcher, AZ, then on to Houston then to Orlando. We may have additional stops along the way... And I will post some pics of our trip in a bit! Bye!

Orlando

2009-02-26T18:59:00.000-08:00

So it's funny that I have this pic up of Kev and I that says "Orlando Temple Love" from when I went out at the end of last summer to pick up Kev from his summer sales, and now, that is where we are going for this summer! We are excited. We are planning our packing because we will be leaving soon. I will be coming back and forth throughout the summer, so many things going on!

But I have lots of Disney-fanatic friends that are sharing all the fun secrets of Disneyworld and I can't wait to take advantage of them all. The perfect thing is that Gabi is a great age to enjoy it all. She LOVES Tinkerbell, so I think we will get her a Tink outfit before we go. Of course, Rach wants the whole princess experience. I'm excited. I just can't wait to see the delight on their faces. We are gonna make some FUN memories this summer!

I will be better about this blog then too. Right now, not too much has been happening. Just school, piano, Enrichment... Rach is enjoying Faith in God. Other than that, Kev just keeps recruiting.

Bye!

Cancun Vacation

2009-01-15T16:31:00.000-08:00

So 2009 is starting out really nice. I mean, who can beat relaxing beaches, all you can eat food all day long, strolling through Mayan ruins, and endless pina coladas? It was such a blast to go to Cancun with the APX group. We met new people and hung out with those we knew. I'm so glad that Kev sells with APX now because it has given us many wonderful opportunities.

More pics and info later!

Joining the communities

2008-12-18T15:24:00.000-08:00

So Kev and I have decided to start stretching our networking stuff and now are on classmates.com, facebook.com, and have this blog. I might have us check out reunion.com as well.

Oh, and Kev has started his own blog for his APX office... I haven't linked it on here yet, so until I do, you can read it at http://thebestofficeintheworld.blogspot.com. I forgot he marked it as private, so if you want to be invited to it, just ask!

Okay friends, reach out and find us! See ya!

Our Family

2008-12-07T15:09:00.000-08:00

We just took this pic and I LOVE it!!

Happy Birthday My Hubby!

2008-12-02T20:56:00.000-08:00

My Man
(Got this from Brooke)

1. Where did you meet?
We met at a fireside, well, after it, actually, at my friend Heidi's brother's house. Kev knew Heidi so he came up to us and introduced himself. After I left he asked her for my phone number and then she called to tell me he asked for it. He called the next day and we went out that week. Been together ever since (four years next month!).
2. How long did you date before you got married? 9 months
3. How long have you been married?
3 years
4. What is your favorite feature of his?
His hands
5. What is your favorite quality of his?
His patience

6. Does he have a nickname for you?
Honeybuns
7. What is his favorite color?
Blue
8. What is his favorite food?
He likes anything, he likes different things every time we go out to "mix it up"

9. What is his favorite sport?
Football
10. When and where was your first kiss?
At the end of our second date, after hanging out together for a week after our first date, my house
11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?
Talk and take walks
12. Do you have any children?
2 girls, Rach and Gabi
13. Does he have a hidden talent?
He can decorate!
14. How old is he?
27
15. Who said "I love you" first?
He did, but I made a CD of songs that hinted at it for Valentine's, which was a couple days before he said it.
16. What is his favorite type of music?
Old school R&B, 80's
17. What do you admire most about him?
I admire that he is so positive and is a hard worker. He totally helps out around the house and is the first to help someone else out, like helping a family move or helping to push someone's car if it ran out of gas on the road.

My husband is so patient, kind, funny, gentle, and giving. He speaks loud and is gregarious, but I love that about him. I love his energy. I love that he has new ideas, and ignites my ideas and we dream big. I love that he makes me not afraid to try things. I love that he tells me daily how wonderful I am, and how happy he is and how I'm beautiful first thing in the morning. I love that he changes the diapers, and plays with the kids, and helps Rach study her spelling and makes math problems for Rach to solve. I love that he is always actively recruiting (haha!) working non-stop. I love that he did awesome this summer for APX and that he is self-motivated and also motivates other people. Kev is a wonderful leader and example. I love that he does his church callings without complaining or bagging on it. I am grateful that he truly cares for whom he Home Teaches. He leads our family in prayer, scripture and FHE, no matter what. I can trust him. I can lean on him. Nothing I say or do or cry about is dumb.

He gives wonderful hugs, says the right things at the right time, never raises his voice, keeps me grounded. I'm so blessed! I have my Mr. Perfect. Happy Birthday, Sweetie! I am grateful that I get to share every year with you for Eternity!! Kisses!!

More Apple Hill

2008-12-02T15:44:00.001-08:00

Also at Apple Hill was Grandma Wadell, Uncle Marc and cousins Zak and Kendall. I just love this pic of Zak and Gabs. So cute!

Thanksgiving Week

2008-12-02T14:46:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful week of Thanksgiving. We started out by going to the Ski/Snowboard show at Cal Expo. That was so fun! Here's a pic of us in GorTex in rain and wind and we didn't get wet at all. It was pretty cool. Rach was also had skiing lessons!

Rach told me all the things she is thankful for, like family, friends and her toys. I started thinking about how I am grateful that I am a member of the church. It is such a blessing. The biggest blessing that I notice, especially as a parent, are the guidelines that we can raise our family by and our standards of how to act. The For the Strength of Youth pamphlet is amazing because it helps me know how to teach my child about modesty, about appropriate movies/music/books, friendships, and how to handle alcohol, drugs (not do them). I just read an article about a girl who started drinking at 12 because her parents had wine around the house. I'm so grateful that we have the Word of Wisdom and that we, as parents, don't have that blurry line of "I can drink a little wine, but it's not good for the kids till they are adults". I don't know how that works, but it seems like kids would be curious about it. I like, that for us, it is black or white. We don't drink. I like that we don't want R-rated movies. It never occurred to me that other people may have problems with them. I once read where a man said that his addiction to pornography got started because watching scenes in movies. And so he had to stop watching R-rated movies, and I think he is a non-denom Christian. I was blown away that someone else might put their own control or limit like that. To me, I never thought about something becoming a problem, just that violence and stuff isn't too healthy to watch and so I like that I have the gospel to help me.

So I'm really, really, really grateful for the standards we have in the standard-shifting world. It is so peaceful.

I'm grateful that I'm a mother to two wonderful girls. I'm grateful for all that they teach me. I'm grateful for my husband and the love he gives to me. (I'm going to be writing another blog about him in a min.)

I'm grateful for my parents and grandparents that have lived their lives the best they knew how and how they have done a great job! They have strength, they have compassion, and they are involved. I love them deeply, and I hope they know this!

Last but not least, I am grateful for friends! I'm so grateful for the friends I have met because of my husband, and that these friends have allowed me into their lives and opened their arms and hearts to me. I'm so happy and so filled with excitement about our lives being entertwined and how we will know each other for years and grow old together. I am enjoying the fact of my friends and I watching each other's children grow. Life is so fun and amazing and I'm grateful for friends to share the journey.

One friendship that has bloomed is with Kev's best childhood friend, Dave and his wife Breeanne. I love to talk to Breeanne because she is so passionate about organics and the environment. She teaches me a lot. I love to be around Kev and Dave because they laugh constantly. In fact, Rach and I feel a little down about how she and I can't get Dad to laugh like Dave does. But then Dave is a different breed... :) just jokin! We love you Kellys! Dave, share some of your secrets! This summer is gonna be crazy with both Dave and Kev workin APX together!

Anyway, we had a blast starting an annual tradition of spening Thanksgiving Eve staying the night at Dave and Breeanne's with their children Jaxon and Joelle. The kids played great, we got to play Wii (tennis anyone?) and the kids got to decorate sugar cookies for the homeless, we got some of Breeanne's mom's pumpkin pie, we made a super rich concoction of hot chocolate for them with some of our Leonidas chocolates we had. We played games, ate a yummy dinner and breakfast. (wheat pancakes with berry sauce and whipped cream!!) Thanks for the memories. Same time next year!

Thanksgiving was at Kev's uncle's home, and it turned out really nice. The cousins had bunches of fun playing outside. The weather and the meal were perfect!

Friday, we went to Apple Hill with my parents. We ate apple donuts at High Hill Ranch and got some Christmas gifts and ornaments. I got some Butter Pecan syrup (just like the kind I had at Breeanne's!) and then we went to another ranch and the kids got to horseback ride and then we had In-n-Out burger and came home. Rach stayed the night with the grandparents and Kev and I and Gabs decorated the chocolate shop for the holidays and organized our new chocolate inventory. The shop looks really nice. I love the tree up inside. Ah, Almost Christmas!

Chica and Gabs on Horseback

2008-12-01T16:07:00.000-08:00

This is fun. We went to Apple Hill after Turkey Day. I only have enough time to get up these two shots.

I will post about Thanksgiving later. :)

Baptism

2008-11-21T09:41:00.001-08:00

Rach was baptized on Nov 8th and it turned out perfect! Friday we did a party of mini golf with Rach's best friends and then Sat was the baptism and I can't believe how smoothly it went. We watched The Mediator in between the grandmas giving their talks, (they did wonderful!!). We had cake and hung out. It was just very peaceful and sweet and now Rach gets to go to Faith in God on Tuesdays! She and Dad get to carpool together because Kev works with the scouts now.

Okay, so I was going to add more, but Gabi is getting into things. This is why I'm not on here very much!!

So I didn't win...

2008-11-06T14:29:00.000-08:00

Ha! The same ol' council is still in effect! I can't believe it after so many people were saying they wanted change. Well, that's okay. I can try again in 2 years. It was interesting!

I'm annoyed Prop 4 didn't pass. But I'm grateful Prop 8 did. And now we get to watch and see what Obama does. Interesting times!

Election Day- and the results for me are...

2008-11-04T23:19:00.000-08:00

VOTE FOR ME! (I just wanted to say that. I need to make a bumper sticker next time!)
Well, at this point in time, last I saw, I have over 3000 votes. But the current mayor, and his other two incumbents, have over 4k. Then a running mate, he is above me by a couple hundred (and he was backed by a group and also had his pic and ads in the Placer Herald, I didn't do all that) and then the other two running mates below me. I'm excited! I was told from Day 1 that the current incumbents would win because they are so entrenched in the City. They have been part of the City Council for like a combined 50 years!! I really thought the City would have wanted fresh faces so that we newbies would have dominated the polls. However, we did dilute the votes pretty good. I learned a lot! We'll see where the current leaders take the City with this terrible economy and the terrible commercial vacancies all around town. Businesses closing. Roseville sucking up our customer base with the Galleria. How can Rocklin compete with that in our backyard?? That would have been my challenge being on the Council. It would have been interesting.

If I choose to do it again, I can in two years when the other two seats become available. I think I could have a better chance because A, I know what to expect now, and B, I won't confuse those who ARE planning to vote for me by throwing a potential move in the middle. ha!

Hooray for 8! Rach's B-day

2008-11-04T23:03:00.000-08:00

Rach is now officially 8. We are very excited! She had a great day and the party isn't over! We do the party and baptism this weekend. So she has an exciting week.

To start off the week with a birthday is pretty neat, we thought. She woke up early and we gathered around the breakfast table for the tradtional cereal of her choice (we don't normally buy sweet cereals, so the birthday cereal is a real treat!) and the opening of presents. Her chair was decorated, until the Gabs got ahold of it. :(

Then we did cupcakes at school and sung to her there. Her primary teacher came over last night and brought her a birthday & baptism gift. That was very sweet of her!

Rach is very special and we very proud of her. She is doing so good in piano. She is playing I am a Child of God and When Jesus Christ Was Baptized. Soccer is almost over and she has been having fun with that. Now that it is almost over though, she can start doing horseback riding lessons. She is growing up so fast. In her school picture, she looks like a big KID. Like, that's MY little girl?? She doesn't seem so little anymore. Happy Birthday my Sweet!

Candy Candy Candy!

2008-11-04T22:35:00.000-08:00

We had such a fun Halloween this year! It was great that it was a week-long party. Our ward party was on Tues, then we carved pumpkins as a fam and baked the seeds on Wed, and then Fri, I made chili and salad and rolls and we went to our friends for dinner and she made pasta, artichokes, and cider. Her home was decorated so cute! Our decorations were taken down and packed! Well, at least I can deck out for Christmas! ha!

Rach and Gabs were ballerinas, and Rach had to have pink hair, so we did that. It was so great to be with our friends and go trick or treating as a big group! We got a ton of candy, saw some really coolly decorated homes and carved pumpkins, and just enjoyed being together. It was great that the rain held during the treating and came at the end, around 8pm. It was perfect!

Has anyone tried those caramel Jr. Mints? I finally just tried those and they are disgusting. I was thinking that they would be a good competition with Milk Duds, and they weren't. Totally a flop. But I still love the regular Jr. Mints. Kev and I have been eating the candy, and he just went to LA and I threatened to throw away all the candy we just got. I think I should, but do I have the willpower?? Almond Joys, Snickers, Twix, Oh My!

Oh and I still have to take a picture of the shop! It looks so cute!

Not Moviing

2008-10-21T21:17:00.000-07:00

After a long road of are we or aren't we? After much prayer, fasting, discussions, asking everyone's opinions and trying to listen to our inner voices/Holy Ghost, we came to the conclusion, with the moving truck fully loaded, that no, we are not moving to Rexburg, Idaho.

What the heck?! Crazy Wadells. I know, we are nuts. We make a decision, we feel good about it, we start going down that path, but then started feeling uncomfortable, but then Kev and I each would be comfortable/uncomfortable at different times, so then, our communication was off. What a pain.

I know this was a crazy learning experience, and I wonder why we went through this? I was telling Kev, maybe it was to humble us? Maybe it was to test our faith? Maybe the Lord wanted us to learn to rely on Him more? Maybe to learn to recognize promptings, now that we see them looking back?

But the whole thing came about that we thought, hmmm, pay $20k for our downpayment for the house or pay $20k to our debt. Then we have General Conference and then that talk by Elder Packer floating around that he gave in some Sacrament meeting and it was about finances and it just kept twinging at us. Like, we really need to pay off debt, especially because it sounds/seems like the end of the world is coming. (just reading the news about the economy!)

So yes, lovely Rocklin gets to keep us, we get to stay renters and pay off our debts and keep going with our current happy life. And how about that City Council position?? Election Day is coming up... maybe I can still make it!

Rexburg would have been great as well, so there is the sadness of the possibilities. I've cried today. I'm ready to sleep and start a new day, however, the fallout from this decision isn't over. Many more people to tell. That's the exhausting part about changing decisions. I liken it to being pregnant and then having a miscarraige and needing to explain it to people whom you haven't seen in a while. This though, is not sad news, so it's not that bad. Everyone that knows here is very happy to be keeping us around. That makes us feel good! :)

Very interesting past few weeks. I still wonder why we didn't know this answer sooner. But I know it will be a funny story later.... "There was a time we had the truck packed... and didn't go!"

General Conference

2008-10-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to post on my blog how much I LOVE conference. I really enjoyed the speakers, and was so excited to hear about a new temple being built in Rome, Italy!! How exciting.

We decided we would take a trip during the open house in Rome and take through my family that live in the Naples area. That will be so exciting! I hope they say yes to going. We have been emailing family history information and I hope to have us keep getting more and more information so that I can get work for these ancestors done.

Some notes from Conference that I took- "See differences as a contribution", Unity talk by Henry B. Eyring. "Christian challenges not new, just keep bearing testimony", Christian Courage by Robert D. Hales. "We don't have to walk across the plains, just across the street- to know our neighbors" (love that!) "live a disciples life", Ballard. "More self-discipline, more fit for the kingdom"- Elaine Dalton.

I'm grateful that we get to hear from the Prophet and leaders. We are so blessed!

~Apple Hill~

2008-10-12T16:53:00.001-07:00

We went to Apple Hill yesterday. First stop though, was buying winter jackets for the girls. It's finally cool enough that we can't go any longer without a thicker coat. So after that we finally got up there and it was around noon, maybe after, and it was soo crowded! We learned our lesson. We usually go early.

However, it was really nice. The weather was perfect and we did all of the fun Apple Hilly things like looking at the crafts, playing with the pumpkins, looking at the fish in the pond at High Hill Ranch and EATING. Apple doughnuts, caramel-mellows, caramel corn, tri-tip sandwhiches and apple cider. Mmmm.

We usually go up the day after Thanksgiving but since we will not be here we decided to go now. However, I just realized we will be here during Christmas so maybe we will get a chance to go back up. I like to buy an ornament up there from the crafters, and I didn't yesterday, so I better go again... it's TRADITION! :)

Prop 4

2008-09-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

You know, with Prop 8 being everyone's concern, it is overstepping some other important propositions on the California ballot for Nov.

Prop 4 is a about providing a waiting period and parental notification for terminating a minor's pregnancy.

The fact that minors can have abortions now with no one knowing is just insane! An abortion is a a HUGELY emotional/physical proceedure and to think that children can go through this without telling anyone is nuts. I don't think that it needs to be the parents that know (it is preferable though), but the law should at least make it that doctors and healthcare providers try hard to work with the minor in finding someone over the age of 18 that the minor knows and trusts to help them through this process. The person would then be able to help in the after care. Maybe someone over the age of 18 wouldn't want to be named because if something happens during the after care and the minor dies or has major issues, the doc can say they turned the minor over to the care of this over 18 year old and then lawsuits happen (like if the parents then try to sue). The whole situation is horrible.

I am all for more education to minors of cause and effect, consequenses and all that abortion entails. I'm not saying show the mutilated babies, I am just saying more conversations with older women who had abortions and what their feelings are looking back. Etc.

So to me, this can't just sneak past that people think that minors don't need to tell anyone. Someone NEEDS to know. This NEEDS to be law. Unwanted pregnancies are going to happen, abortions are going to happen (and I'm definitely not pro abortion, that's why I tout education!) but I totally think that minors should not be going through something like this by themselves.

If I could just wrap my arms around all those young girls in this situation...

WOW, it's been a month!

2008-09-27T09:17:00.001-07:00

Sorry folks for leaving you hanging for this month. :)

Rach is doing excellent. She reads a ton. I love reading scriptures as a family because it is so fun that she can read verses with us!

Gabs is growing so fast! At her 18 month check up on Monday, she weighed 23.5 lbs and is 33inches. She is only like 27% in weight but 90% for height. We are going to have tall girls!!

Kev is doing great recruiting now that he is home. It's nice because it is easy to sell something when you are passionate and are proof. Like, a lot of MLM companies act like you can make a ton of money with them, but with an actual, legit company, Kev is proof that with the hard work, you CAN make great money and since Kev has made the income, it makes people think, okay, I can do this. So hopefully he has a good team for next summer and everyone can make what they need and then it just keep being successful from there.

I just sewed a pillowcase, my first, with halloween fabric. I'm quite pleased. I'm totally on a sewing kick. I can't wait to sew more projects. :)

The chocolate shop is all decorated for fall, and it's cute because it's my favorite time of year. I just have to add some final touches with some real gourds. I will have to take some pictures.

OH, and I'm learning a ton from running for City Council. It's too bad I'm moving so that I can't become a City Council person, but on the otherhand, just running has given me TONS of insight into the whole political world and what it all takes!!

My darling Chica

2008-08-28T12:59:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Chica and then Chica with Gabs riding a horse. (Chica is starting horseriding lessons soon!) Chica , now in 2nd grade, busy doing piano and soccer and enjoying life. I totally enjoy watching her personality blossom. She is into snails and frogs and all things outdoors. Yesterday she said that she decided not to become a scientist anymore (and I worried what she decided to choose..) and she said she wants to be a gemologist, palentologist and something else, but it was still all science. It was cute! She likes digging for gems in Webkinz World and so that is where the gemologist came from.

She is also such a great helper with Gabi. I have to keep remembering she is 7. I get all irritated if there is something that happens (she chases Gabs and Gabs wrecks or something) and I know that Rach always has her best interest. Like, everyday she will tell me, Oh Gabs wants this or that, if Gabs is whining about something. I'm like, you don't have to translate, I know what she wants, I'm just not giving it to her. Funny! But yeah, it's great to see the love blossom between them. Gabs RUNS to see Rach after school. We love picking up Sis from school. Gabs will walk around the house and say "where's dachel" (Gabs calls her Dachel). I have to say, remember, we took her to school? I hope they always remain close.

Chica is a very good girl. We butt heads, but we're still very blessed with her. She's so smart! It's great because I know the Lord has great things in store for her!!

One more week until I have my Hubby!

2008-08-23T23:26:00.000-07:00

It's the last stretch of this summer. I can't believe it. I remember the day Kev left for the summer, and I moped while I organized the garage. I thought of how our summer seemed so long, stretched before me. How was I going to get through it? And then, amazingly, I was very busy, had a great time with friends and the kids, and now, school is back in and Kev is done on Saturday. Yippee!

I am flying to Orlando and he is flying in from Houston and we will go to Disneyworld together to ride the rides together instead of just with Rachael. We will also go to the Orlando Temple and then also see how the rest of Orlando is since it's been raining a ton from Fay. I can't wait!

I miss him, miss him, miss him!

Idaho here we come?

2008-08-16T03:44:00.000-07:00

Funny how things go...
Really.
Kev and I have been wanting to buy a home and we were dead set to stay here in Rocklin. We LOVE it. Love the ward, community, etc. We kept saying that we would grow old here. I'm even running for City Council!
But alas, (between the little snipets of raising our family in a smaller town somewhere over the years), things started heating up lately as we see how much Kev loves APX (he's found his calling!) and wants to continue for awhile. So we have been thinking how he is the main breadwinner (despite Leonidas, etc.) and that if he needs to work on recruiting in the off season, he needs to be where the type of people he is looking for is strong. We started thinking AZ, but that only lasted a few days. We couldn't wrap our heads around it. Why do people love AZ? Why do people move there? Not our cup of tea. :)

Anyway, so like a couple weeks go by and we started up again. This time, with drama of Leonidas in the forefront, it was even stronger. The drama with Leonidas is that besides us throwing our money into it in the off season, (which we knew we would do), Corp Leonidas wants us to open in the Galleria... and be a coffee shop (the NEW LCC). And we don't want to be a chocolate cafe (a $350k buildout). And the whole time we've been open, they've been saying how really, they wanted us or SOMEONE in the Galleria. And we never went there first because, hey, cheap rent to get started then move on, but also, Corp really wants the coffee thing, so we felt like we were pigeonholed doing what we were doing in our current spot. We would never be able to open another "just chocolate" shop again. No room for growth/expansion for us. That's no fun because that was where we were planning on going with it. And we didnt' realize how much Corp would be involved, because it only just started in this last year. Before it was, sell our chocolate any way you want, be what you want. Now they are streamlining and braning themselves hard! Anyway, we were worrying that someone would come into our territory, and we'd be out of biz, etc. We had stopped worrying about it because we were like, no one wants Sacramento but us. Well, that is true, but since we had expressed interest about having a kiosk in the mall at the holidays, Corp went crazy! And as of yesterday emailed me plans to the mall... and I'm like, wait, wait!! So, since Corp wants us in the mall, and not in our current location, we can't sign a new lease with where we are at. Especially because if we don't open in the mall, Corp will find someone that will and won't care that we get squeezed out. Why do we want to commit business suicide? Why ride a sinking ship? So...

With the drama of possibly shutting our doors. Well, okay, we will be, just after the holidays, but I do hope that someone wants to open in the mall because it is Fab chocolate and now we got people all excited. I don't want to let the fans down. :)

So that opens the door for us to be able to leave. (without a mess.) How wonderful is that? Kev and I started thinking that if he makes great money for APX, maybe we SHOULD start considering what people always talk about, the whole "cost of living thing". So we started comparing different cities and costs, and discovered Rexburg, and how we could get a huge home and get everything we want and more and it is the price of a cheap, nothing home here. The comparison was like, 43% lower cost for a home and 27% cost of living lower. That's a ton. Besides that, the cost of running the home is low as well (Utilities are like $120 in the summer a month for all and then up to $300 in winter, again for ALL the bills. Not here, and I'm a RENTER!) Also, we found a home we are in LOVE with. And then it started to come together. Kev and I were like, this sits well with us, where AZ didn't. We keep talking as if we already own this home and live in Id. Kev has tried to look at other homes online and send me links, and I'm like forget it! I'm sold, this is the one! And he agrees. We both just keep staring at the pics online...

Last night, Kev's regional, Cameron and wife, Brooke, went to the home, knocked on the door and got a tour of it. The owner is the builder, he's a contractor! They put it on the market on Tuesday and Cameron said it was a great home. They said there are four girls who live next door for our girls to play with! The wives hang out and drive to the lake! I'm so excited and I'm not even there yet. But it FEELS right. Well, the sick thing is so did the modest clothing shop... but we won't go there. (I'll get back to that in a min).

So yeah, we love Rocklin, swore we would be here forever, or around this area (loomis or somethin) and here we are, moving to the SNOW. (notice how I just said "moving", like it's a done deal!). Oh, and on the whole snow thing, we didn't want snow when we were thinking of where to go and kept talking about how perfect CA is, but then since I've lived in Rexburg before for a couple of winters, it wasn't a big deal. I don't look back and think, Rexburg was nice, but man I hated the snow. Now I could change my mind. But at the same time, we both agree that there are more benefits to living there than the snow can dampen.

Okay the mod clothing shop, I still am going to do it. I will come back and get that started and then when I come back to visit my family, the trips will be tax write offs for the biz! But yeah, since my intention wasn't to be hands-on with the shop anyway, just the dream of bringing modest clothing to our area, I still want to do that, and still like the idea of it being mine. But all the day-to-day stuff, I know Morg can handle and I can't wait to turn it over to her. So yeah, once we get settled in Id, we will come back in the spring and get things going for the Simply Modest Clothing. If I can even use that name...

And as for the home, we are already working with a local realtor (Cameron and Brooke's) and then we have our friend Gary here, who is working on the financing. It's all rolling... Maybe my next update will say we got it?!

Tidbits

2008-08-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

Summertime is almost over for us. I'm SO glad. Today we find out who Rach's 2nd grade teacher is, Monday is meet the teacher, and Tuesday school begins. I love her to pieces but we are getting at each other's throats lately! Rach also had her physical last week and we found out her height is in the 95th percentile and that she is 4'3". I asked what a normal height for a 7/8 is, and he said about 6 inches shorter! holy cow! Here are some pictures of some new school clothes!

On another note, I've been scanning pics and uploading them to Heritage Makers and having fun with that. It's so fun! I started throwing out old, bulky photo albums. Rach was asking me why, and I held up a thin HM book and said, because we now have these! :)

Has anyone read divinecaroline.com? That has the most hilarious blog about brazilian waxes. I was cracking up! I always wondered why women would do those things, and it made me still think, no thanks, but yeah, if you want a good laugh, check it out.

patience is a virtue...

2008-08-06T03:22:00.001-07:00

So I had no idea about the blog world until my neighbor emailed me about some. Has anyone read thepioneerwoman one or captainhambone? They are funny.

It is almost 3:30am and amazingly I can't fall asleep. First I just had a great meeting with a restaurant about our chocolates and it went well. We are trying to get my chocolates in their dessert mix, and then some big events coming up in the fall that they will want our chocolates at, also, they have a little shop to sell their wines and olive oils in and I could put some of our chocolate in their case (the prepacks). This would be great! So we will see. The manager was also very excited about me running for City Council. It made me feel good. I was feeling like I could conquer the world.

The other news is that I'm trying to get this modest clothing shop off the ground, with a shoe-string budget and I thought Kev would be all for it. He was an advocate, and then, as soon as I came back from FL, the option just blossomed before me that I had to go for it. We have an awesome site in our current center to put our clothing shop and I just got the okay today that I can lease it. Now Kev is saying that he wants to wait. This is KILLIN me. Of course, him as well. He said he feels so bad, like he's crushing my dream, and well, it is. I feel like, is there anyway I can convince him otherwise? He wants to wait at least a couple more months and then figure it out, or even wait until next year. (our goal was to pay down/off debts this year and starting a new biz doesn't go in that direction). Next year? Our perfect little spot won't be there by then. Unless the Lord knows otherwise... which He does, so why do I whine?

I get it, I get it. I'm changing things up. Not going according to our plans. I get that we should wait, but I'm so passionate. I feel like a starving artist. I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin from excitement! I have so many people that can't wait for this shop to get open! And then, I have my Love... my everything. And I do not want to make him stressed out and my passion for this is. And that hurts. And I would never do this without his blessing. I need him to be excited about this as well. That's the part that hurts, is that he isn't with me. I thought he would be excited and just think like me about taking it slow and put the shop together slowly. But obviously, someone has to have their feet on the ground, and I know it's a good thing that he does, I just don't like it at this moment.

EDIT: So I decided that we won't open it until next year. I let the landlord know that we WON"T be taking the lease and I'm sad, but I know that Kev never leads us in a wrong direction and so... I just have to have patience. Which is good, it will give me more time to plan and get things organized and not try and get it open in two months. but still... sigh....

Disneyworld!

2008-08-04T23:12:00.001-07:00

We had a great time at Disneyworld Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom!

FINALLY AUGUST!

2008-08-04T22:40:00.000-07:00

I am so excited for August, because it means Fall is just around the corner! My favorite time of year!

Rach starts soccer this week, we got her new cleats today. She finds out who her teacher is next week and then starts the following week. We will restart up on our piano lessons and then she will begin horseback riding soon as well. We just went ice skating last week and it was so fun, I didn't bring my camera though.

Still haven't signed our new lease for the shop. I'm not worried about it though. I'm really looking forward to the holidays! We got ANOTHER write up in the Sierra Style magazine, so that was nice (a surprise as well), so hopefully it is keeping chocolate on people's minds! Tomorrow I have a meeting with a big restaurant in our area and so hopefully they buy again from me this holiday season.

I've also decided to run for City Council. I think it will be interesting, especially with owning a business and with the way the economy is going, I want to make sure the City is doing what it can to keep businesses staying and hep bring new business.

Kev is doing great with APX. It's been a rough summer.

Okay, so I feel like this blog today is generic. I'm tired, but wanted to get a new post up since it has been forever. I promise a better post later!

Home Now and my beautiful shop drama

2008-07-11T19:12:00.000-07:00

So I'm back home now with the girls. We totally miss Kev. Gabs wakes up and starts asking for "dada". She points to his picture, and one picture that is in Rach's room, she takes it and kisses it. It's sooo cute!

I had a mountain of mail from being gone for a month. It's great to be back though. I felt like I had so much to do and my hands were tied when I was gone. But then, I got to come home to drama about my lease at the chocolate shop. I'll keep updating what happens, but as of today, it doesn't seem likely I will get renewed because of my *irritating* neighbor whom I share my electricity with. SO FRUSTRATING. I'll be really sad to let the shop go since we put so much time and energy into getting it up and running. It's a beautiful little shop! Sigh... things happen for a reason, right?

American Freedom School

2008-07-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

I'm SO EXCITED! We have a new non-profit LDS school opening near us. It is patterned after...
www.american-heritage.org

We just went to a meeting last night about it and I think this will be so perfect for Rachael. Is it bad for me to be jealous of my children? I would have loved to have gone to a school like this.

Anyway, it's pretty crazy that this is opening this fall because, I was just leaving for Florida a month ago and my friend and I were discussing how we were going to start our own private school. We took notes, were looking into how to become non-profit status, places we could have the school, etc. And then, when I'm in FL, I get an email from my mother-in-law about this school starting in our area and I was sooo shocked. What a blessing!

I'm excited to be apart of the very beginning, to see what teachers are coming in, and be able to have a voice in the process. Fun fun!

Goes with the Meteor theory

2008-07-04T09:02:00.001-07:00

So then randomly my friend Brooke sent me this awesome article that is from Elder Maxwell that was for a different reason, but then totally goes with the forming of the Earth that I've been thinking about. Here is a quote from it and then I will put the article in my recent reads section so you can read the whole thing if you'd like. (Fantastic I tell ya! Had me in tears!!)

"What John and Paul wrote about God’s creations and the plurality of worlds, the restored gospel grandly affirms, declaring that “worlds without number” have been created (Moses 1:33; see also John 1:3; Heb. 1:2; Heb. 11:3; D&C 93:10). These gospel truths are very significant assurances for us, situated as we are on this tiny “speck of sand” at the outer edge of a minor galaxy, the Milky Way. Without the gospel’s fulness, we would appear to be living during one tick of the geological clock and in the midst of unexplained vastness.
Nevertheless, our focus is to be on this planet, just as the Lord told Moses:
“But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away. … Innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them” (Moses 1:35).
Enoch, to whom the Lord revealed so much, praised God amid His vast creations, exclaiming reassuringly, “Yet thou art there” (Moses 7:30; see also Jer. 10:12).
This same special assurance can see each of us through all the seasons and circumstances of our lives. A universal God is actually involved with our small, individual universes of experience! In the midst of His vast dominions, yet He numbers us, knows us, and loves us perfectly (see Moses 1:35; John 10:14)." Ensign, Nov 1987

Probably the whole article should be here but yeah, it just reaffirms that scientists will never come close to figuring it out. :)

OH, and another eerie thing, this article talks about oil- "What we mortals encounter as the unforeseen, God has already seen, such as how the oil deposits of this earth would shape the latter-day conflicts among nations. God’s “is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations” (Isa. 14:26). He likewise foresaw all the awful famines, some resulting from the unwise, unnecessary erosions of precious topsoil. He surely foresaw the terrible persecutions of the Jews. Having created the earth, He has anticipated the impact of continental drifts on the frequency and intensity of latter-day earthquakes. He who analogized that “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest” (Isa. 57:20) also knows where and when, in latter days, the seas’ tidal waves will heave themselves savagely “beyond their bounds” (D&C 88:90)."

This talk is from 1987 and talking about oil deposits and now we are talking about where to drill, etc. because the price of gas is so high. Crazy!

Theories and the History Channel

2008-07-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

So I think science is funny. We've been watching the History Channel and the theories of how the Earth and Moon were formed are hilarious. Not that I have a better explanation than God created them, but the fact is, these theories are really out there. I guess because I have my faith in the Lord that it doesn't cause me to look around and think, now how did that get there? I don't think it is blind faith, but I feel nothing I've heard has felt to ring true like my accepting that God created it, and it was just there. :)

Anyway, the theory of the oceans forming on the earth is that after a big meteor hit the earth, it was cloudy, therefore it rained for millions, and millions, and millions of years (remember the Earth is BILLIONS of years old), so raining for millions of years straight is nothing in the drop of time. Then the moon was formed by astroids/meteors hitting the Earth hard and a piece of Earth breaking off, and then the earth got back into a round shape and the moon went into a round shape and supposedly just stays in orbit around our Earth perfectly and helps with the tides of our oceans and forms our calendar as well. First it just makes me ask, why aren't we getting hit by anything lately? I feel like they keep leaving that out. And second, everything is just too perfect and orderly for me to accept these theories.

Friends

2008-06-30T13:41:00.000-07:00

Kevin is selling with APX Alarms here in Tallahassee, FL, and we came out to visit. We have met some really nice people. Jennie and Deidre have been wonderful, and I just wanted them to know that they have made our summer visit truly great! I don't know what we would have done without hanging out with them and their kids. THANK YOU!!

I'm looking forward to our continuing friendship, and I love how we have blogs and email to keep up! They are the ones that told me about blogging (even though my sis-in-law Lisa has one and told me about it before). I never got into it until they told me how easy it was and so I finally sat down and got into it.

I think I'm excited about this blog life because sometimes before I go to bed at night, my mind is churning with things that I want to write to newspapers or something, about my thoughts and opinions of life. So then I just realized the other day that I have blogging that I can just say what I want, when I want and get my thoughts out, even if no one ever sees. Or, the fantasy is that some famous news source stumbles upon my blog of moral rants and gets me published. I would love for my thoughts to have some kind of help for a person. Be it a mother, friend, teen, neighbor, stranger, etc.

So yes, Deidre and Jennie and Lisa, thanks for introducing me to the world of blogging and I look forward to all the future blogs! And I hope everyone enjoys mine. :)

Thunderstorms

2008-06-30T13:08:00.000-07:00

Did I mention that I love weather? Florida has been fun because of the lightening and thunder. Exceptional shows! Now I am spoiled and when we go back to Cali, I think regular cloudy skies are going to be boring.

I never realized that lightening could keep going and going. It seems whenever I see storms, that lightening is a few minutes in between the next strike. This is just, lightening and then lightening again. The thunder is right on top of it. A friend here told me that there are lots of deaths due to the lightening in this state.

Really, I LOVE weather. I've been debating that instead of getting my Master's in Public Heath, that maybe I should get it in Meterology. Stay tuned...

Hasta!

The moral decay of society

2008-06-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

I just want to say that I will use this blog to post my opinions on the moral decay of society, or life according to Tiffany and how everyone should be like me. Haha. But then I will also add my photos and info of my family and activities just so that this isn't a negative blog, but more about life and then some of my soapbox rants mingled throughout. So here we go...

My first blog will be about how "Children are not protected". Is it just me or should children not be allowed to enter video stores because each cover of the movies out there are so disgusting and sexual/violent, that it is not good for our children/teens to have these pictures burned into their minds? I bring this up, hoping that others will see my point and make sure that as adults, if you want to rent a movie, fine, just pick it up on the way home so that you can browse the movies without subjecting your children from running round the moviestore with all the crazy content around them.

I am not sure if others think like me and have thought of this, but so far, when I talk to people, they haven't really thought of it. I think of how when I was a kid, some of the images I saw on the covers of movies would run circles in my mind. So I point this out because I know what I thought about and looked at and I'm hoping that we can make it that we just start protecting children's minds by not exposing them to these images. That is one battle, one area where we do have the control of that situation and choose not to bring our children to that environment.

Ta-Ta for now! ~Tiff