The Carver Crew

Banner Events 500 Fans Giveaway Winner!!!

2011-12-17T22:01:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Lindsay Litchfield, who left comment #3! We will pass on your email to our contest sponsors for prize redemption instructions! Thank you to all who entered our Banner Events 500 Fan Giveaway!

Banner Events: 500 Fan Facebook Giveaway

2011-12-12T12:30:00.000-08:00

A little background about Banner Events

From concept to conclusion, we at

Banner Events believe in taking the hassle out of event planning so you can BE a guest at your own party.

After much encouragement from family and friends, I finally decided to jump feet first into the event planning world! The last couple of months have flown by. It's no secret that I love to throw parties. I always have! I knew event planning would be busy, exhausting, and require a lot of hard work, but looked forward to it opening up many new and exciting creative outlets for me. (And it has!) What I wasn't prepared for was the fast exposure and success that I would experience or the amazing group of individuals and business owners I would have the privilege of working with and calling 'friends'.

With a handful of events under my belt, finally, in late October, I gave a name to my party pursuits and Banner Events was launched on Facebook.

Here are a few shots from some of our favorite most recent events (some are only sneak peek pics of events not published yet).

I know I still have a lot of work ahead of me, including a logo design to create and a website to develop, but for now, it's time to celebrate!

In less than 2 short months, over 500 {FIVE HUNDRED!!) people and businesses have shown their support for the pursuit of my dreams. Are you one of them? If so, I am so appreciative! I look forward to sharing my love of parties for many years to come!

So, to {THANK YOU} for the amazing support thus far, let's get down to the real reason you've all come to my blog!

500 FACEBOOK FAN GIVEAWAY

DETAILS & INSTRUCTIONS

I am thrilled to include the following 5 businesses in our first Banner Events Giveaway (retail value over $125):

A to Z Celebrations is donating a $25 gift credit to their shop.

The owner, Nancy, (besides being one of the nicest people you'll ever know) styles the most incredible parties and sells beautiful table runners, garlands, banners & more in her Etsy Shop. You can also follow Nancy's beautiful party ideas & DIY projects over on her blog.

Cupcake Express is donating a $50 credit to their shop (for printables only).

Ashley sells darling cupcake wrappers and printable party decor for a variety of themes. You can visit her blog here.

A&E Design Works is donating a $20 credit towards any vinyl design in their shop + cost of shipping (to U.S./Canada residents only).

Amy, the 'A' in A&E Design Works, is a great personal friend of mine and so talented. She offers removable vinyl wall art and more. You can select from a wide variety of pre-made designs or have Amy create something custom for you. There's pretty much no limit to what you can customiz with vinyl!

Bird's Party is donating a $20 credit to anything in their shop.

Bird's Party is a one-stop-shop for affordable, printable party supplies and decorations - You simply print, cut and party! From birthdays, to Christmas, baby showers, special celebrations or graduation, they have unique, stunning party designs to help you create amazing parties for all of life's special celebrations! Bird also has a blog full of wonderful ideas. Follow her here.

Donna Hale, Independent Scentsy Consultant is donating 2 Scentsy bars (retail of $10) plus the cost of shipping inside U.S./Canada.

Scentsy offers a safe wickless alternative to scented candles. They come in a wide variety of wonderful scents and warm by way of a small light bulb in cute decorative warmers.

HOW TO ENTER THE BANNER EVENTS

500 FAN GIVEAWAY

Mandatory (1 totaly entry):

'Like' each of the 6 following businesses on Facebook for a total of 1 (ONE) entry.

Banner Events

A to Zebra Celebrations

Cupcake Express

A&E Design Works

Bird's Party

Donna Hale, Independent Scentsy Consultant

Leave a comment on each of their walls that says, "I am entering the Banner Events 500 Fans Giveaway" (or something similar).

(Be sure to link to the Banner Events Facebook page in your comment by using the @symbol.)

Then come back and leave me one comment only stating you liked all the pages. Please include an email address for contact purposes, should you be our winner.

Optional {BONUS} Entries (1 entry each):

1. Share about the giveaway on Facebook. Come back and leave a comment with the link to your post. Please include an email address for contact purposes, should you be our winner.

2. Share about the giveaway on Twitter. Come back and leave a comment with the link to your tweet. Please include an email address for contact purposes, should you be our winner.

3. Share about the giveaway on your website or blog. Come back and leave a comment with the link to your post. Please include an email address for contact purposes, should you be our winner.

4. Follow Banner Events on Twitter. Come back and leave your Twitter name. Please include an email address for contact purposes, should you be our winner.

This giveaway is open to all countries, (with the exception of free shipping of prizes being limited to US/Canada residents only as specified above).

The contest will end on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST. The winner will be announced on Sunday, December 18th.

Best of luck!

An Under The Sea Tea Party

2011-05-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

(click on collage to enlarge photos)

With Max's birth shortly after Kaylee's 5th birthday last year, I never did get around to posting pictures from her "Under the Sea" Tea Party. Of course, keeping with the running theme of Disney Princesses from the past 2 birthdays, Kaylee chose to honor Princess Ariel this year.

All the 'little mermaids' were sent custom invitations (cute Little Mermaid bottles filled with the invitation scrolled up). Upon arrival, they received their 'mermaid tails'--adorable sequined skirts with tulle fins designed and sewn by my friend, Jaimee Nelson-- and a handmade shell bracelet.

Soon after, Ursula (Whitney Egbert) arrived, being sure to snatch up the unsuspecting little mermaids with her tentacles while they danced to the Little Mermaid soundtrack. They loved her!

The mermaids were then treated to an under the sea smorgasboard on the ocean floor, including, tuna fish 'sand'wiches, seafood pasta salad, hotdogs in the shape of an octopus, goldfish crackers, chips, fruit & blue lagoon punch. For dessert, they enjoyed cupcakes decorated like fish, crabs and the beach.

One of the favorite activities was making a home in a golfish bowl and choosing a live goldfish to take home as a party favor.

Manicures, Pedicures, Facials...Oh My!

2011-05-23T22:56:00.000-07:00

Ahh, who doesn't love to be pampered? Being the girly-girl that she is, Kaylee chose a spa-themed party for her 6th birthday party. As of late, she is all about fingernail polish, pedicures, facials, make-up and fun hairstyles.

We found adorable graphics from My Grafico and asked my incredibly talented friend, Amy Grendell, to design some fun party printables & an invitation using them. I love how everything turned out! We had so much fun coordinating party favors and dessert table elements with the hot pink and green color palette.

The girls loved their custom pink and white polka dot spa pants that they were presented with upon arrival, sewn by another talented friend, Vivian Kerr.

They were treated to a foot soaking in lavendar scented water, foot masages, spa socks & toe nail painting, followed by an avocado mud & cucumber eye mask facial. They were given reading material (princess books) and beverages (pink lemonade served in glass bottles with cute striped straws & party flags).

Each girl was then escorted to the beauty parlor station where fingernails were painted & adorned with flower & jewel art, make up was done & hair was styled.

When they were finished, each girl rocked out to Just Dance 2 on the Wii and enjoyed the colorful dessert and snack table. They took home party favor baskets full of treats & beauty products to replicate their own spa experience at home.

Kaylee had a wonderful time being pampered with her friends for her birthday.

Zoom...Zoom...Landon Sped Past 3

2011-05-23T21:08:00.000-07:00

I kid you not, for the e-n-t-i-r-e summer and into the fall & winter months, Landon talked non-stop about his 'car' birthday party. There was no question in his mind at all about whether he was actually having one. His only question was 'when?' Luckily for him, Josh and I had been collecting ideas perfectly fit for our racecar-loving little boy and were ready to see what we had only envisioned in our minds' eye, come to life.

The highlight of the event was the custom built race car track Josh built, inspired by Gwynn Wasson Designs. The guests had so much fun racing Matchbox cars down the track. Equally enjoyed by our pint-size racers was the life-size roadway & Little Tikes cars for cruising.

I loved the bright red & yellow color palette, with splashes of the traditional black & white checkered racing pattern. We used Gwynn to design our party printables and the invitation we used.

We hope you enjoy the pictures!

FunHouseGPT.com 1st Birthday!

2011-02-28T15:59:00.000-08:00

Happy First Birthday FunHouseGPT.com!

Tomorrow marks the official 1st Birthday of FunHouseGPT.com! We are so excited! We appreciate your membership on our site & look forward to a long future together.

We will be celebrating all month long in what we will be referring to as

The FunHouse Birthday Extravaganza!

We hope you will join with us in celebrating! All month long, there will be contests & prizes galore! You do not want to miss out!

Here are the details of currently announced contests (but rest assured, more WILL be added as the month goes on):

March Monthly Offers/Daily Click/Daily Survey Contest Part 1: Complete the most offers from the monthly, daily click and daily survey categories that credit and win! March 1st, 2011 12 a.m. EST - March 15th, 2011 11:59 p.m. EST.

1st- $20

2nd- $10

3rd- $5

March Extravaganza Month-Long Contest: ALL OFFERS COUNT (including daily clicks, monthly offers & daily surveys)

March 1st, 2011 12 a.m. EST - March 31st, 2011 11:59 p.m. EST. Complete the most offers that credit and win!

1st- $75

2nd- $50

3rd- $25

Birthday Extravaganza Day 1 Contest (this will happen every day the first week): Complete the most offers that credit and you'll win (monthly, daily click and daily survey contests do not count in this contest)March 1st, 2011 12 a.m. EST - March 1st, 2011 11:59 p.m. EST.

1st- $5

2nd- $3

3rd- $2

4th- $1

5th- $1

**NOTE: There will be a daily contest every day for at least the 1st week!

March Referral Contest: Refer the most new members who complete at least one offer for credit (daily clicks do not count) and win! Referrals must remain in good standing for the length of the contest in order to count.)

March 1st, 2011 12 a.m. EST - March 31st, 2011 11:59 p.m. EST.

1st- $10

2nd- $5

Viral Activity Bonus:

We will be selecting up to 3 members to reward for their activity on our forums and other viral locations (Facebook, Blogger, etc). Winning members will receive a $25 Restaurant.com Gift Certificate. Drawing will take place on April 1, 2011. You may earn one entry for each of the following things:

1. Join the FunHouseGPT forum and post an introduction post in the "Introductions" topic. (If you've already done this, welcome new members!)

2. Reach cashout and post payment proof in the "Payment proof" topic in the forum. (May be done again, even if previously done.)

3. Join our FunHouseGPT Facebook group and post a comment on our wall with your FunHouse member name.

4. Get your friends to join the FunHouse Facebook group. Have them write on our wall telling us you sent them (they must write your username).

5. Blog about the FunHouse March Contests. Leave a link to your blog on our Facebook wall.

6. Leave a positive comment promoting FunHouse on any number of online moneymaking websites and link us to your comment. (If you need suggestions of such sites, inbox message us.)

Good luck!

FunHouseGPT

How Do I {LOVE} Thee...?

2011-02-20T22:36:00.000-08:00

I {LOVE} love.

Look up 'hopeless romantic' in a dictionary. Yep, there's my picture. O.K., maybe not, but if I wrote the dictionary, *MY* picture would accompany the definition. I'll take that up with Mr. Webster, soon. Like right after I do my taxes and the laundry.

Soooo, you'd guess that one who LOVES love, also loves Valentine's Day, and you'd be right.

I love the hand-written notes, sweet sentiments, thoughtful gestures & simple romance behind the day. It's not about money spent. I still get giddy holding hands (with 4 kids, usually we are holding one of their hands, instead of each others), sneaking a kiss & sharing a conversation without interruption. O.K., and I love the chocolate. Chocolate dipped strawberries. Truffles. You name it, if there is chocolate in it, I'm in love.

This year, the kids & I made these :

And these:

O.K., and some of these:

And we may have added cute little labels to these Hershey's chocolates too:

Next year, I'm adding these to our {LOVE} menu.

After all, it's all about the little details...

Speaking of details...Stay tuned for the amazing details of our Valentine's Weekend! Coming up next!

Josh's Claim to Fame

2011-01-11T11:17:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already, pick up your copy of the February 2011 issue of Men's Health Magazine in stores now. Josh's weightloss story is highlighted in the "Belly Off" feature. It was an exciting opportunity for him to interview with writers, editors and photographers of the magazine. Men's Health is the world's largest men's magazine.

We are so proud of his determination and hard work!

Here are a few pictures from the photo shoot.

A Lesson Learned

2010-12-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

“The bridge of service invites us to cross over it frequently.”
~Thomas S. Monson

(This post is inspired by "Jenny's Gist".)

Sometimes the most powerful lessons are learned in the midst of some of your deepest heartache and greatest challenges.
If I had to choose one year of my life that I never want to relive, it would be 2007.

That year was a particularly difficult one for our family. What started out as an exciting year full of hope and promise quickly turned to one of despair (but not of lost faith). Shortly after listing our home on the market, we began the search for a new house--one that would better accommodate our growing family & could be our little piece of ‘heaven on earth‘ . This was not a decision we made lightly. It was a process that involved much thought & pondering, fasting & prayer as we tried to figure out God’s will for our family.

Though we definitely felt guided in our housing decisions, our house adventure didn’t go quite as we hoped. The housing market seemed to change overnight. Houses went from selling within a few days to the bottom dropping out completely. A failed closing left us as the ’proud’ new owners of not one home, but two. Two mortgages. Two home owners insurance premiums. Two sets of utilities. Two property taxes. Two HOA dues. You get the picture. Many dream of owning 2 houses, but this was our nightmare.

Our financial situation was made a little more difficult because of huge medical bills that year-- bills for emergency orthopedic surgery to repair Jake’s broken arm, surgery & physical therapy to rehabilitate Josh’s injured foot/ankle, & extra appointments & tests associated with a baby I was carrying that my dr. felt had a high probability of being born with Downs Syndrome. Add the expenses of grad school books & supplies at a private university & we were stretched really thin.

Thankfully, we had followed the counsel of Church leaders to stay out of unnecessary debt, have savings for ‘a rainy day’ and an emergency year’s supply of food in storage. Heaven knows all of those principles blessed our lives that year.

I realized many lessons that year, but most importantly, I learned about service and the difference even one person can make in another‘s life.

“God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom.”

Late that summer, we were nearing total depletion of both our checking and savings accounts. We were weighing our options, considering ‘worst case scenarios’. In complete desperation, once again, we took the matter before the Lord in prayer. I remember getting up from our knees and feeling that somehow, a way would be provided.

It was the beginning of August. After an accounting of our finances and assets, it was determined that we had enough money to pay all bills and not go into debt, for one more month. Come September 1st, drastic measures would have to be taken to stay afloat. We needed a miracle.

And a miracle is exactly what the Lord had in store…

There was a ring of the telephone. A friend of mine called to let us know a special fast & prayer had been planned for our family. It was to take place the following Sunday (not a designated fast Sunday). We were invited to join with our friends in asking the Lord for needed help & blessings for our family. As most understand, religious fasting involves going without food & drink for a specified period to demonstrate to the Lord not only our willingness to sacrifice, but to also show our absolute dependence on him. The simple fact that dozens of couples were willing to sacrifice on our behalf was humbling. I will never forget attending church that Sunday, 5 months pregnant & unable to fast myself, only to have countless friends come and give me a hug letting me know they were praying and fasting for our family that day. That was just the start of our miracle and set in motion a series of events that would ultimately result in the much needed sale of our home.

The very next Sunday our real estate agent called to say that after 8 months of our house being on the market we finally had an offer! A couple had come by and looked at the home several times in the week prior. Not only had they made an offer on the home, but they were the ‘ideal buyers’ and could close by the end of the month (meeting our much needed deadline). We could not believe this news! Josh and I immediately got down on our knees, offering up prayers of thanksgiving to the Lord for this miracle.

What I remember most from this experience is the willingness of our friends & family to help in our time of crisis. They didn’t call first to see if we ‘wanted’ their help. They didn’t worry about whether the timing was convenient. They didn’t even really ask permission. They just served. I’m not sure they will ever fully appreciate how this experience touched our hearts, our lives and our home. We fully believe that God was able to grant us much needed blessings through the added faith and prayers of our friends.

From this experience I learned I should not hesitate to serve. When prompted, I should: Send the card in the mail. Take over the simple dinner, even if they have another one on the table. Make the phone call. You never know when the Lord may be using you to bless another person.

I came across these words:

You never know when someone
May catch a dream from you
You never know when a little word
Or something you may do
May open up the windows
Of a mind that seeks the light
The way you live may not matter at all,
But you never know – it might.

And just in case it could be
That another’s life, through you,
Might possibly change for the better
With a broader and brighter view,
It seems it might be worth a try
At pointing the way to the right
Of course, it may not mater at all,
But then again – it might

We may never know what our small acts of service mean to someone else. But I know that one sister’s service on my behalf changed my life and how I try to serve others. I now believe that even the most simple acts of service are often the most profound.

2010-11-26T16:35:00.001-08:00

Bonafide Bride's Favorite Things Giveaway!!

This month, BonafideBride is providing its readers with the chance to win a prize package worth over $120 of their 'favorite things' . Go here to enter.

BonafideBride is brought to you by the lovely Kristin Polhemus, a wedding planner extraordinaire. It is choc full of amazing wedding, shower & party planning ideas.

Good luck! Contest ends December 10th!

{Because 'Enquiring' Minds Want to Know}

2010-11-22T21:31:00.000-08:00

Last month, I turned 35. THIRTY-FIVE. That's freaking old. Time to get a 'real' will in order. Although I still feel 21, numbers don't lie. So, in honor of being 35 years young, I thought I'd record some things for your reading pleasure.

35 things you may or may not know about me…
1. I’m secretly shy.
2. I love the smell of men’s cologne.
3. I find inspiration in great quotes, poetry, heart-felt stories and the written word.
4. Music moves me.
5. I am the worst Spanish speaker in the world.
6. I like watching scary movies.
7. Halloween still thrills me, especially dressing up in costume.
8. If I could, I would still go trick or treating.
9. I love setting a pretty table.
10. I wish I was as patient as my mom.
11. I love party and event planning!
12. Creating invitations is my favorite part of party planning.
13. I often think/plan/organize in themes or analogies.
14. I love getting a good bargain, but I wouldn’t call myself “cheap”.
15. One of the best free gifts is a foot massage.
16. One of the best paid treats/luxuries is a pedicure.
17. I could drink hot chocolate year round.
18. I complain too much.
19. I miss teaching.
20. I can’t wait to go on a cruise.
21. I love seafood.
22. I have a funny (o.k. weird) liking for stinky baby feet.
23. I could spend hours in a craft or scrapbook store.
24. I can throw a great spiral (football).
25. I lack dancing skills, sadly. (My college roommates can’t say I didn’t try…hard.)
26. I am the worst hummer around. Don’t make me do the humdinger challenges in the game Cranium if I’m on your team, unless you want to lose.
27. I love people watching. I could do it all day.
28. I would go crazy without my computer.
29. I want to take photography lessons, or at the very least, figure out how to really use my camera.
30. I wish I had taken advantage of the years of piano lessons I took.
31. I want to learn to play the guitar.
32. I dream of one day being able to sew anything I want!
33. I am a terrible green thumb.
34. I love being social.
35. When I’m really stressed, you’ll know it because I’ll either A.) get sick or B.) break out in a cold sore. I'm fighting A.) right now and on the verge of B.) .

Reflections of...

2010-10-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

A Modern Day Fairy Tale

(Click pictures to enlarge. Photos courtesy of Leah Polhemus.)

Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale. This past weekend, Josh and I found ourselves smack dab in the middle of one.

It’s not every day that Josh and I hop aboard a plane, leaving our 4 children behind (yes, even the baby) to head to New Jersey to attend the wedding of a couple we’ve never actually met in real life. But, this couple is no ordinary couple and their story is no ordinary tale.

Meet Adam and Kristin (a.k.a. 'Cinderella' and 'Prince Charming').

Adam and Kristin share the kind of love that fairy tales are made of. (Read their story here.) While their relationship has not been void of trials and hardships, & they've suffered the highs and lows common in every relationship, they already realize what most couples spend a lifetime trying to figure out:

“If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently…”

~F. Burton Howard~

To observe them, is to see a union formed by Heaven itself.

Three years ago, I met Adam while we worked together in our spare time on a web based advertising/marketing business. We became fast friends as many of our core values and beliefs were in synch. I was impressed by his integrity, amazing attitude towards life, his willingness to always put others first and his absolute love, concern and adoration for his then girlfriend, Kristin.

While the website that originally brought us together as friends eventually succumbed to the spiraling economic times, Adam and I remained in contact, updating each other on life every few months; him sharing updates on his relationship progress with Kristin (he had been saving money for an engagement ring), and his real job as a NJ State Trooper and me sharing the latest and greatest about motherhood and marriage to my prince charming, Josh.

Fast forward a couple of years to March 2010. My brother and I had decided to join forces and open up our own web based business, similar to the one Adam and I had worked on together previously. Immediately I knew that our business needed Adam’s strengths and personality if it were to be as successful as we hoped it would be. Adam eventually succumbed to my peer pressure and joined with us as one of our site administrators. He has been such a blessing and asset. Our business has grown because of his careful attention and presence. However, more importantly, as I have come to better know Adam and Kristin this past year, my appreciation for them and the kind of relationship they share, has grown.
While in the thick of their wedding preparation, Kristin’s father suffered some major medical setbacks resulting in a massive heart attack and ultimately leaving him in a vegetative coma. Just a few short months before their marriage, she and Adam were forced to lay aside their massive to-do lists, personal agendas and visions of a perfect country wedding to be at her father’s side, helping him fight for his very life.

The twists and turns are too numerous to list as they have fought and continue to fight with the insurance company to cover the very care that could help her father recover from his massive ordeal. Unfortunately, the needed coverage was not granted and the much prayed for brain rehabilitation treatment has yet to be performed. And with just a couple of months before her wedding remaining, sadly, Kristin learned that her father would not be the one walking her down the aisle at her wedding, nor would he have the privilege of giving his first-born daughter away in marriage. He would not escort his daughter to the dance floor and lead her in the first dance or give her a parting kiss on her cheek before heading off into the sunset with her prince charming. This realization was devastating, but in typical Kristin and Adam fashion, they would not let this tragedy define them or create a wedge between them. Their faith would not falter and their resolve would not weaken. Suffice it to say, their love for one another & their faith and trust in God has trumped every sadness, overcome great heartache and further strengthened a relationship that many couples will spend their whole lives trying to build. Their carefully chosen wedding day--10-10-10--would still go on.
Needless to say, when the invitation was extended to attend their wedding, I told Adam I would move heaven and earth to be there. Thankfully, Josh, the love of my life, saw the significance of this invitation, the specialness of this couple and granted my wish to see the fulfillment of a fairy tale.

We just arrived home from a whirlwind wedding weekend and are still pinching ourselves to make sure we were not dreaming! Adam and Kristin’s wedding was just as beautiful as I imagined it would be, and they are just as incredible in person as they came across when only an internet cord connected us.

Here is a masterful depiction of their beautiful farm wedding via this highlight video. It tells the story of not only their love and their beautiful day, but the story of a father’s love on a day he would have given everything to be a part of.
(Pause the music on my playlist and turn up your volume.)

.kristin and adam..the dress from endless wave studios on Vimeo.

Thank you Kristin and Adam for not only teaching us what true love is about but for reminding us what true love looks like. We love you and know great happiness will continue to be yours.

Love,
Jen & Josh

2010-10-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

A NEW YORK WEEKEND
October 7-11th
2010

...

(Click photos to enlarge.)

Josh and I had the amazing opportunity to go on a somewhat 'spontaneous' trip to the East Coast last weekend after receiving the invitation to attend a friend's wedding in New Jersey (separate wedding post coming). We decided to take advantage of the kid-free weekend and tacked on a few extra days so we could visit Ammon (Josh's brother) and enjoy some leisure time in New York City.

After arriving late Thursday, we spent the night at the Marriott Fairfield Inn, close to the Newark Airport, opting to take the train into the city the next morning. We hit Manhattan around noon on a gorgeous Fall day with no predetermined agenda and enjoyed casually strolling around the city. (After just coming off of an exhausting Disneyland trip, the casual approach and pace of this trip was just what the dr. ordered.)

We were giddy as we realized this was the first real kid-free trip we've enjoyed since our last trip to NYC 4 1/2 years ago. We couldn't believe we could actually hold hands, sit by one another at the restaurant & even steal a kiss or two without at least 2 children in between us. It was magical.

**Important note to all our friends & family: We gladly accept invitations to any and all 'adult only' functions from here on out, especially if it requires an overnight stay in a far off location.

Some of our favorite things we did included:

1. Seeing the Broadway Play Mamma Mia (storyline set to ABBA music). Entertaining & fun, but not one I'd spend the money to see again.

2. Dinner out at Bar Americain (a Bobby Flay restaurant). Amazing food! Best filet mignon I have ever tasted!

3. Visiting Josh's brother, Ammon & having him show us some of the delicious local places to eat & sightsee. We enjoyed a great lunch outdoors at Rue 57 on Friday and another fabulous lunch on Saturday overlooking the water at The Frying Pan. We topped off the food fest with dessert at Billy's Bakery, sharing the most ginormous piece of red velvet cake you have ever seen.

4. Shopping on Canal Street. 'Louis, Chanel, Coach. You like Miss?' Ha ha.

5. Beautiful views of the New York skyline and the World Trade Center/Financial Disrict from the Milennium Hilton Hotel where we stayed while in the city.

We love NYC and can't wait to return!

2010-10-16T15:50:00.000-07:00

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

How did we trick our kids into manual labor and good behavior for 2 months straight? Simple. Sheer bribery and a little help from

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E.

(Don‘t pretend you didn‘t just sing that.)

Call us crazy, but we did just that. Boy was life grand during the months of August and September. With the promise of the ultimate 5-day trip to Disneyland & California Adventure riding on their every move, my kids didn‘t dare say a cross word or let a scowl pass their lips for fear that said trip might be revoked. They happily did their chores (ok, “happily” might be a slight exaggeration. But hey, at least they didn‘t totally revolt) and treated each other as all good little boys and girls should (with the exception of the occasional 'he hit me' or 'she‘s bothering me'). After all, this was no ordinary trip to Disneyland at stake. This trip we decided to go 'all out'.

Highlights included:

* 3 days at Disneyland, 1 day at California Adventure, 1 morning at Downtown Disney
* World of Color water & light show
* Getting pictures and autographs of dozens of Disney characters
* Lunch with all of the princesses at Ariel’s Grotto
* Halloween Time--Disneyland was all decked out for Halloween
* Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Trick-or-Treat Party the night of Jen’s birthday
* Aunt Mari visiting
* Dinner with Aunt Mari and Uncle Chris at the Rainforest Café in Downtown Disney
* Visiting a live show of Playhouse Disney
* Tricking Josh into going on the Tower of Terror with Jacob.
* Jacob braving his first upside down roller coaster (California Screamin’)
* At least one ride that Josh was on breaking down each day that we were there.
* Jacob being selected as a jedi during the Jedi Training Academy

Paradise: Revisited

2010-10-15T13:08:00.000-07:00

Sun. Sea. Sand. Surf. I submit to you, life cannot get much better than this. Once again, Josh and I met up with my parents and as many siblings and their spouses that could make it and took advantage of Kauai’s beauty and my parents’ generous time share offering.
It’s become a much needed get-away that has fast become an every-other-year tropical vacation tradition that we look forward to. The 7 night/ 8day trip flies by too quickly, always leaving us longing for more of paradise. We are already looking forward to 2012 and hope my parents will be compelled by the promise of more grand children (ahem, Cami and JR it’s your turn to contribute to THAT cause, lol) to invite us all once again!

Josh and I are so grateful to his parents for spending 8 days here in Seattle with our children so that we could enjoy a little ‘heaven on earth’ without them. Here are a few pictures highlighting our trip. Enjoy!

Married to THE Biggest Loser

2010-09-09T21:26:00.001-07:00

If you were to ask me to describe my husband, I'd have to respond by saying I am married to THE biggest loser.

Now, now. Before you think I've turned insanely rude, hear me out.

First, a little proof:
Exhibit A:

Here is a picture of Josh taken just over 8 months ago at our son, Jacob's, baptism.

While Josh might have been at the heavy end of the spectrum for his personal weight continuum, it had been such a gradual progression that none of us really noticed or considered him "over weight". He had undergone several surgeries in the past few years, including a knee surgery last September and ankle surgeries a few years prior, which had prevented him from exercising for long stretches of time as he recovered, completed adequate physical therapy and nursed himself back to health.

At the end of February, Josh was finally feeling like his knee was recovered enough to get serious about his health and fitness. He researched a lot of exercise & nutrition plans & felt that while many of them had good components, most were not sustainable long term.

Now enter THE BODYBUGG. The body what? THE BODYBUGG.

Basically, the BodyBugg is an arm band device which by way of 4 sensors collects data and in conjunction with the users body perameters (age, gender, height, weight) enables the most accurate estimation of calorie expenditure. (To read more about the science behind the BodyBugg, go here.)

Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight realizes that you must burn more calories in a day than you consume if you are to shed those unwanted pounds. The BodyBugg system not only allows for the calculation of calorie burn, but has an online computer program component as well, helping you to accurately track the amount of calories consumed. The program takes your body perameters into consideration, along with a personal profile evaluation you complete, your weight loss goal and then helps you to set up a realistic weight loss schedule, showing you how many calories you must burn and eat in a day in order to reach your goal in a specified time period.

It's A-MAZING! You simply plug the arm band into your computer via a USB cord and your personal data appears on the screen. Using their online resource of food nutritional values, you enter the data for the meals, snacks and beverages consumed during the day to arrive at your calorie deficit/overage for the day. The program even has a personalized menu plan, should you struggle with coming up with your own healthy menu options that fit your calorie needs.

I won't drone on and on about the marvels of this contraption. Needless to say, it worked!

Three months later Josh had turned his flab into fab, having shed approximately 50 lbs. There were no fad diets or insane exercise routines. Josh simply adjusted his diet to a more health conscious plan, added appropriate consistent exercise into his schedule and reaped some marvelous results!

Exhibit B:

Fast forward less than 2 months later and 8 additional pounds lost and now you have my BIGGEST LOSER, enjoying the fruits of his labor (58 lb. total weight loss) while vacationing in Hawaii. (**We are at the beach on vacation, thus the bathing suits.)

Top/Bottom--before/after:

Exhibit C:

After observing Josh's success, I too started on the BodyBugg, following the birth of our 4th child in May. I'm down just over 40 lbs. with a little more to go towards reaching my goal. (That's over 100 lbs. between the two of us!!) If I can stay away from the Halloween treats that are already popping up in stores, I should be finished with my goal in the next month. Wish me luck! I want BIGGEST LOSER status too!

A Day of Firsts...

2010-09-08T20:31:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday was back-to-school day in our area. As irony would have it, my kids had just figured out what it meant to sleep in for once, and here it was already time to get back to the insane early morning routine. Go figure...

This school year will be a little crazier than usual. Not only do we have 2 in school, but 2 at 2 different schools.

Jake was fortunate enough to qualify for the 3rd grade "Quest" program (an accelerated class), housed at a local elementary school, but not our home elementary school.

His class starts 20 minutes earlier than Kaylee's school. Because of a crazy transportation schedule he has to be driven there each morning. I am hopeful that the differentiated curriculum and accelerated pace will be worth the extra effort and morning chaos. The verdict is still out on that one. Check back after a few frazzled months have past.

Our little Kaylee started Kindergarten and joined Jake in the "big kid" status department. She is thrilled to have a reason to have her own back pack and lunch box. She has already obsessed each day about her wardrobe and accessories, and I can tell there will be many high maintenance years to come (lol).

As for Landon...he was certain he was heading to school this year with the big kids. He insisted on loading up one of Jake's old backpacks with his favorite books, alphabet cards and snacks for lunch. He toted it around on his shoulders all morning long and was insistant on bringing it in the car with us on our morning errands. He begged for "cool dude" hair and literally forced me to take his picture with his backpack on when he noticed me taking the other kids' pictures. I have a feeling this will be a long disappointing year for him as he watches his best buddies leave for school each day and realizes he is stuck home with good old Mom for another year.

Crazy 8

2010-09-05T16:00:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I pretty much up and vanished from the blog world. I eliminated many "want to dos" from my to-do list and chose to concentrate on the "have to dos". Having 4 kids will do that to you. I mean, every mother of 4 knows that there are 4 unwritten "to dos" at the top of her list by default each morning. Mine happen to be named: Jacob, Kaylee, Landon and Max. If Landon's name were actually written down, it would be in all CAPITAL letters because he currently seems to be the one most of my energy is spent on and is probably the reason blogging has ceased as I once knew it.

I do have a handful of posts started, all saved in "draft" form, waiting for that little bit of extra inspiration needed to wrap them all up with a pretty bow. You know me and my need for "nice and tidy." As I sat down today to start where I left off about 6 months ago (with the exception of one mandatory "oh by-the-way I had a baby post" & one other "if I don't post something people will know I've surely gone crazy" post), my mind began to wander and it hit me that this past month marks 8 years in Washington! And, what a CrAaaaazy awesome 8 years it has been.

Eight years ago...

Since that photo was taken: Two houses, 2 Disneyland trips, 3 more children, 2 years of grad school (for Josh), 9 church callings, 1 new website business, 4 Kauai trips, 1 new car, 1 broken arm, 2 NY trips, 1 ankle surgery, 4 years of preschool carpool, 1 European adventure, 4 sibling weddings, 1 knee surgery, 1 Vietnam study abroad, the passing of 3 wonderful grandparents, lots of trips to Utah & the birth of too many cousins to count....plus a million other things I'm too tired to think about at the moment.

Here's our crazy crew, 8 years later. And yes...I realize I need to update our blog heading to include Max. Someday....

Here's hoping for another wonderful 8 years!

I No Longer Work In a Classroom, but I am Still a Teacher...

2010-08-31T13:47:00.000-07:00

Eight years have come and gone since I last stood in an elementary school classroom. It seems like only yesterday I was being recognized for my 4 years of service as the 6th grade Accelerated Learning Lab teacher, at what would be my last end-of-year faculty lunch. I remember the parting words I shared with my teaching colleagues, many who had become not only trusted mentors, but close personal friends.

"Today, I am giving up something I truly love," I said, "for something I love even more."

That day, I said good-bye to an absolutely thrilling and fulfilling teaching career in favor of spending my days being a full-time mom to my then only child, Jacob. Since then, we have added 3 more precious children to our family, and I have never regretted that decision. I am thankful that I continue to be blessed with the opportunity to stay home and raise my children.

As most moms can attest, motherhood can be a relatively "thankless" job, especially with young children who don't always recognize the daily sacrifice involved in raising a family and running a household. Often I've wondered if I'm doing enough to teach my children right from wrong. Are my expectations high enough, or do I expect too much? Do I spend enough time with them? Do they truly know how much I love them? Do they know I would give my life for them?

I remember wondering many of these same questions when I was teaching school. I adored my students and couldn't imagine a more fulfilling job. I was teaching some of the brightest, most creative and talented students imaginable. And, they were teaching me.

I wondered on a daily basis if I was doing enough to foster an environment that would encourage academic, social and emotional growth, while simultaneously allowing each to feel loved and valued. Was I teaching them life lessons as well as the "core curriculum"? When they left my classroom, would they be armed with the tools they needed to move confidently and successfully forward in life? As each year came to a close, I felt a tremendous loss as each class moved on to junior high, knowing my time with them was through. I hoped I had done all I could for them. It was with great hope in their potentials, that I promised them I would keep tabs on them as they continued on their journey. I knew they would each do amazing things with their lives. I have not been disappointed.

With advances in technology and social media, it's been amazing to stay connected with almost all of these "kids", who are now full-fledged adults making their mark on the world. Recently, I received several surprising letters from some of these former students. Here are some small excerpts from a few of the letters (I will explain my purpose in sharing them at the end):

"Thanks for playing such a big role in my education. I credit you for my decision to become a teacher. I have gained such respect for you through my small experiences in the teaching field. It makes me realize just how talented you really are and how lucky I was to be in your class..." --A.H.Z.

From another student, "I want to thank you for being a wonderful teacher. It is difficult to express just how much you have impacted my life for good...I have always remembered the striking difference in atmosphere, and in the quality of my teacher, from the day I walked into your 6th grade class...You became an important symbol to me of standing for what was right, of being kind, of being strong, of being fair, and of being what I wanted to be...Some of my fondest memories of my life are from the time I spent in the Gifted and Talented program, and in your class..." --S.S.

"You were hands down the best teacher I ever had!!! I remember more from my six grade class than I do in all of my Jr. High and High school combined! I have so many wonderful memories from our class and could not have asked for a better example than you! I hope you know what an amazing influence you were in my life and every young life you touched during your years as a teacher. I can honestly say I am eternally blessed to know you and to have learned so much from you. And not only the standard state curriculum. You taught us so much more than that! You taught us about life, our self-worth and potential and most importantly.... TO BE PECULIAR! I've carried that with me throughout life and it has been a tremendous help! Knowing that it's okay to be different and stand up for what I know is right in every situation. It's something I will surely pass down to my children. So thank you for everything! Honestly, there are no words that seem sufficient enough to describe my gratitude for you. But I would certainly regret not trying at all. So thank you..." --M.T.O.

And finally-- "I love you and your amazing lessons. Since I moved on from your class I have always referred to you as my best and most influential teacher. You are just amazing. I have never forgotten the life lessons you taught us when you read to us "You are Special" with profound concern and sincerity. I have never forgotten how you nurtured my idealistic "I can do anything" spirit and allowed me to build a SPACE SHIP at the school. I will never forget your kindness in how you treated us. I will never forget how much you valued honesty and integrity. You were always watching out for the underdogs and you promoted unity unlike any individual I have come accross in my life. I feel like I need another teacher like you in my life at this stage of my life where I now make the decisions that determine the path and course of my forever." --C.V.

As a teacher, you can imagine the flood of emotions that came over me as I read these heartfelt notes of appreciation from individuals I care deeply about. Each tender letter arrived on a particularly difficult motherhood day when I was struggling with feelings of frustration and helplessness in my divine role. They came at a time when I needed to feel capable of making a difference. Capable of doing something right. These wonderful students had found value in the work that I had done years ago as their teacher. They wanted me to know they had taken the things I had passionately shared with them and made use of them in their lives. I sobbed while reading each note. A flood of wonderful memories came to my mind. Oh, how I loved these kids.

I've thought about those letters many times in the last few weeks. I've pulled them out and re-read the words countless times. Once again, as they had many times before, my students were teaching me. They were reminding me of important life lessons. First, they reminded me of the importance of showing gratitude and how wonderful it feels to be appreciated. Secondly, they reminded me of the power of a personal note/letter. And most importantly, they reminded me, of the tremendous influence for good I can be in the lives of children, and it doesn't always require a classroom or a salary.

I may not be these students' teacher any longer, but I am still a teacher. My most important students are the 4 children that call me "Mom". Oh, how I love these kids!

To Max, With Love

2010-05-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

May 24, 2010

My Dear Baby Max,

On May 3, 2010, shortly after 4 p.m. I welcomed you as my 4th little miracle. Three weeks have passed since the wonderful day of your birth, a day when my empty arms became full once again & I was reminded by my Father in Heaven just how precious & sacred the gift of motherhood truly is. My eyes filled with tears as Dr. Nickel assisted your little fragile body into this world and gently handed you over to me to hold for the first time, a beautiful, healthy son.

The feeling in that moment is indescribable. The love your dad and I have had for you since the moment we learned of your existence seemed to multiply a thousand times. You took our breath away. It was love at first sight. Our hearts instantly grew, never to be the same again.

Each time I hold you, I'm carried away by your intoxicatingly sweet baby smell and mesmerized by your beautiful eyes and miniature features. I love stroking your thick, dark hair and snuggling your little body close to mine.

In a few short months, you will have strength enough to hold up your own head and it will become increasingly easier for you to escape my smothering hugs and kisses. Until then, I will seize every opportunity to hold you close, to keep you protected in my arms. I wish I could freeze time and keep you tiny for a little longer. If wishing on the brightest star would make it so, I'd lay awake each night star-gazing. But, I know that is not how it is to be, and my time with you will pass faster than I can imagine.

Since the day of your birth, time has already moved so quickly, just as the older generations cautioned it would. You've already grown inches and ounces, and before I know it, you will stand taller than I do.

Your little hands that wrap softly around my fingers now, will grow large and strong. My hope for you is that your hands will always be found helping & serving others and doing much good.

Your feet, still too tiny for newborn shoes, will grow long and wide, giving support to your body. May they always be found walking in the ways of truth and light, following the path that our Savior took. May your eyes, so innocent and bright always reflect an honest, good soul.

May your mind, so pure & so clean, always remember the love your Father in Heaven has for you, the love your dad and I have for you, and the tremendous gift you are to our family.

On May 3, 2010, shortly after 4 p.m. I welcomed you as my 4th little miracle & today, I count the privilege of being your mother as one of my greatest blessings and responsibilities. I love you Max. Welcome to the Carver Crew!

All my love,
Mommy

My Newest Adventure...

2010-03-02T22:02:00.000-08:00

I opened my own website and am co-owners with my brother Doug. It is a "get-paid-to" take survey site (GPT) called FunHouseGPT.com. We are very excited! Feel free to register and check it out. It's completely free. The earning potential is limitless. If you'd like a tutorial on how to get started, leave me a comment with your email address & I'll send you one. It's a great way to earn some extra cash. Last year, I earned about $6,000 taking surveys just like the ones we sponsor on our site.

At FunHouseGPT we believe earning cash and rewards should be easy and fun! So how do you get started? First, register by going to www.funhousegpt.com . Then let the fun begin as you accumulate easy money by completing FREE offers including surveys, easy signups, requesting information, entering sweepstakes, and more...all from the comfort of your own home! For each offer you complete, you will earn cash and/or points, redeemable for instant Paypal cashout or a variety of gift card rewards.

FunHouseGPT was launched in late February 2010 and is sure to become a popular, fast- growing GPT site. Brought to you by two co-owners well-respected for their admin style in the GPT industry, FunHouseGPT is ready to rock it‘s Grand Opening. Several members have already reached the cash out requirement. You can check out proof of payment proof here. FunHouseGPT looks forward to becoming one of the best GPT sites around.

What sets FunHouseGPT apart from other GPTs? The amount of contests, prizes and rewards to be given away each month, plus a high offer approval rate and quick approvals (many offers approve instantly!).

Low $5.00 cashout minimum.

Instant Paypal payments once cashout minimum has been met.
You make 15% of whatever your Level-1 referrals make and an additional 5% of whatever your Level-2 referrals make.

Hundreds of no-money-down high-paying surveys.

Several credit card offers and trial offers will also be available

NEW offers are added frequently—almost daily!

Monthly contests for big prizes and rewards, plus random contests added all month long.
FunHouseGPT's very own Facebook page and Fan Group (in process).
Quick, approachable, efficient and helpful administration and support staff.

The bottom line is this: FunHouseGPT makes earning rewards fun and easy! Come join the excitement today at FunHouseGPT

Grand Opening Contests are posted:

Grand Opening Offer Contest:
Feb 23, 2010 12:00 AM to Mar 31, 2010 11:59 PM

Complete the most offers that credit & you'll win!
1st place $100
2nd place $50
3rd place $25

Grand Opening Referral Contest:

Feb 23, 2010 12:00 AM - Mar 31, 2010 11:59 PM

Refer the most new members, who each complete at least one offer, and you'll win! Referrals must complete at least one offer other than a Daily Click or Daily Survey and must remain a member throughout the length of the contest in order to qualify.

1st place $25
2nd place $10

More contests may be added throughout the month as well! After all, contests are fun!

Competing For Our Hearts

2010-02-23T22:20:00.000-08:00

Think back to my Valentine's Day 2009 post here and you'll remember that my wonderful friend Jodi and I were treated to a Scavenger Hunt 'O Love and a very memorable evening planned by our two amazing husbands. This year was our turn to plan the Valentine's Day adventure! I think we had more fun planning the date than anything. I've never laughed so hard in my life.
(Here we are at the start of the date (*notice the very round belly).)
(Here are the true love birds (and our great friends), Jodi and Sean.)

We like to keep things fun, while also adding in a little romance and craziness to the evening. This year, we decided with the Olympics Opening Ceremonies coinciding with our planned Valentine date night, we'd do our own makeshift Olympics, Valentine style. We thought about having true "sporting events", but given my current "condition" (7 months pregnant), we thought it might be more fun having the husbands take one for the team.

Our Olympians arrived promptly, having no idea about what exactly we had planned. We started the date by giving each of them a gift to open. First, came their Valentine Olympic shirts: Team Carver & Team Elwell. Next, came their main gift and their first event.

Event #1: "Spend $100 Cash Dash" (The boys were given the challenge, $100 each and one hour to head to the local mall and spend up to $100 on a sporting good item of their choice.

Apparently spending $100 in an hour is not as easy for men as it is for women. (I could have blown that in a few minutes.) Each of the guys found one shirt and had most of their money left over (I think they needed us with them to tell them that whatever they tried on "looked good".)

Nevertheless, they met us at the next location, a little nervous for their next event: The Target Men's Department.

Event #2: "I'm 2 Sexy 4 Your Love Fashion Show". This was by far the most embarrassing of the events, yet I must say, both men were great sports. Their challenge included finding the most ridiculous outfit for their opponent to put on which then had to be worn down the make-shift catwalk. They had to strut their stuff and sing, "I'm a model, you know what I mean, and I do my little turn on the catwalk." (We had alerted the Target fitting room attendants of the little fashion show, but had not anticipated such a large crowd in front of the dressing rooms. It was hilarious!)

Here they are sporting suit jackets, board shorts and their business socks.
This is Josh's token "putting out the vibe" move. (He's watched Zoolander and A Night at the Roxbury a few too many times.)

Next up, Walmart & Event #3: "Shake Your Groove Thing". As I'm sure you've guessed this event involved hula hoops and competitors shakin' what their mama gave them (hips). The Walmart employee did not seem happy that we were messing with their hula hoops. Josh was the winner of this event, which meant Sean got to sing "Hoop there it is" as Josh kept the hoop going.

Because one can never get enough Walmart, Event #4: Post Date Dessert also took place here. The guys each had $10 to purchase something for a little after date dessert. We'll leave it at that. :)

I think the men were relieved to finally get out of Walmart, but weren't so sure they liked finding out that their next stop was McDonald's.
(Don't worry, Jodi and I aren't mean enough to make them stomach Mickey D's for their V-Day meal...but, we are mean enough to make them sing for a couple of Big Mac appetizers!)

Event #5: "We're Lovin' It" Unfortunately, this event wasn't as funny to the McDonald's employee as it was to us. After waiting in line for a minute or two, they were asked the token "May I take your order?" Josh, responding to the challenge replied in a sing-song voice, "We'd like 2 all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun." Jodi and I were dying laughing. But what was funnier than Josh singing his order was the look of cluelessness on the McDonald employee's face as she tried to figure out what exactly THAT was. She stared at her cash register touch screen trying to make one of the buttons fit. Finally, a little frazzled, she asked Josh what it was he was intending to order. Apparently, she was too young to appreciate the jingle. Sad day. We learned we are officially old. Upon receiving their order of 2 Big Macs, Sean was left to sing, "Da, da, da, da, da...I'm lovin' it."

So, we sat and shared a couple of Big Macs as a little appetizer before our real meal.

Event #6 was cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control. It would have been the most fun event for the guys. We had planned a hoop shoot contest at the YMCA, but unfortunately when we arrived, all the courts were in use and our dinner reservations couldn't wait. So we proceeded to the real portion of our date.

Dinner: Iron Chef Restaurant. We loved our meal. The Iron Chef is a Japanese Steakhouse where your food is cooked on a grill right before your eyes. The chefs transform the art of cooking into a performance of juggling agility as they toss around knives and ingredients while masterfully perfecting your food. It was very entertaining and especially delicious.

We finished off the date at the movie theater seeing Valentine's Day, with an A-list cast so long, I can't even imagine the payroll.

Josh surprised me that night with a dozen beautiful roses and a new LG enV Touch phone with email and a texting plan. (The phone was even charged and ready to go. So thoughtful!)

I look forward to seeing what the boys come up with for Valentine's 2011! I won't be 7 months pregnant then, so bring on the main event!

My New Sexy Yellow Shirt...

2010-02-04T08:28:00.000-08:00

Yes, you heard it right. I am now the proud owner of the coveted and oh-so-sexy yellow Cub Scout leader shirt. Be jealous. Very, very jealous.

Most of you who read my blog understand how "callings" in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints work. An ecclesiastical leader in authority to extend service positions in the church (ie: A bishopric or Stake Presidency member) calls you into his office and asks if you would be willing to fulfill a new assignment to help the church continue to grow and function. These assignments or "callings" as we refer to them, can range from leading the church choir to teaching Sunday School to running the youth sports programs to being the Wolf Den leader in the church chartered Cub Scout organization.

You guessed it, I am the newest Wolf Den leader in my ward and now have the privilege of sporting the sexy shirt. My "call" came shortly after attending Jacob's first Pack Meeting after turning 8 and entering the Wolf den. (Here he is pictured receiving his Bobcat award.)

I'm looking forward to working alongside Jacob, the other 16 or so 8 yr-old boys and the amazing leaders who also help with the Wolf dens. But mostly, I'm looking forward to proudly wearing my new sexy yellow shirt.

Things That Inspire Me

2010-02-01T09:25:00.000-08:00

Life is full of little bursts of sunshine which provide enough light to inspire me to be better. Today, I was thinking about some of these heaven-sent blessings that mean so much to me.

1. Uplifting music.
2. Observing random acts of kindness.
3. Watching others patient endurance in the midst of trials.
4. Sincere compliments given by others.
5. True love.
6. Hand-written thank you cards.
7. Receiving the hugs/kiss of a child.
8. Good quotes.
9. Enduring friendship.
10. Seeing others accomplish difficult goals.
What inspires you?

Conflicted...

2010-01-27T21:14:00.000-08:00

Dear Fellow Mothers and Fathers or Friends (with good advice and wisdom),

I have a few questions I need help answering and think maybe you can help. I'll give you more background information than you'd ever care to know, but might help you better understand my dilemma.

While we were dating, Josh and I often talked about the number of children we'd like to have. Each of us came from large families (7 kids in his family and 5 in mine)so our plan always included having a big crew of our own. We felt settled with the idea of 5.

Life didn't go as we had planned. Shortly after we were married, we realized that we had little control over our own fertility. (To this day, we still don't know why becoming pregnant takes so long for us...) It took a couple of years, fertility treatments and countless doctor appointments to finally conceive Jacob. Likewise, Kaylee was a product of medical intervention and heartfelt prayers. For those of you who struggle with infertility you can appreciate the absolute discouragement and deflation that comes with each failed pregnancy test. It is an emotional journey to say the least. One full of questions, few answers, countless needle pokes, tests, charts, doctors visits and tears. On the flip side of that, with each positive pregnancy test comes an indescribable joy and true understanding of the word "miracle".

Following the births of Jacob and Kaylee, the next two pregnancies seemed like literal miracles to me. I was just starting to get that inkling that it was time to begin the pregnancy "process" when I discovered that I was already expecting. It was a welcome relief from all of the anxiety-filled months and/or years of "trying" that I had become accustomed to in the previous pregnancies. Nevertheless, the years of trying and waiting and disappointment meant a longer child bearing phase than we had anticipated.

So here we are, prepping to become parents to our 4th and possibly final child. I have mixed emotions and feel conflicted. So, what is it exactly that I'm conflicted about? I have felt the last year or two that maybe 4 children (not 5 as previously mentioned) was the magic "Carver Crew" number. I was feeling pretty settled in that feeling until I learned that baby #4 was a boy. (FYI, I love boys...and girls!) For some reason, however, I always imagined having 2 little girls in my family. I was sure that this last baby would be a girl, and I could then move forward confidently in the decision that we were DONE. I could clear out all the extra baby stuff and finally have some space in my garage. I could focus a little more on me and truly getting back in good shape. I would be able to designate more permanent living arrangements for my children, knowing our family was all here. I could commit more time to helping in my children's classrooms, encouraging them in their talent development. I could start to prepare for the future that happens after the child bearing stage. So many reasons for wanting that DONE feeling. None of which are really that important when considering the grand scheme of things, I know.

If I'm honest, part of me wants that DONE feeling because I doubt my own abilities to be a good mother to more than 4. I already feel inadequate and am not sure that with all of my shortcomings I would be able to provide the loving, peaceful, positive atmosphere a 5th child would need. I wonder if the stress of 5 would do me in. (I personally don't want to occupy a bed at the local mental asylum, but think that could very well be my fate.)

I know baby #4 is not even here yet which makes this conversation so premature, but when you are trying to decide whether to make an "investment" in a new stroller system and crib and which things to save or to get rid of, the question of more children weighs heavily on one's mind. Every time I get the urge to go get rid of the baby girl clothes and accessories, I stop myself. The thought of selling them or giving them away makes me sad. However, the idea of a possible 5th child freaks me out. It's something Josh and I have talked about often lately. I'm making it a matter of prayer. I just wish I knew...

My question to all of you out there is this...How did you know? And when did the DONE feeling come? How did you know that it was Heavenly Father's will and not just your own desires or fears?

Love,
Conflicted in WA

Tornado Warning

2010-01-19T10:16:00.000-08:00

Warning: Tornado alert. This little devil wreaks havoc and will make a disaster out of anything in his path. If you see him coming, I highly suggest that you take cover and hide or you may not be able to withstand the havoc and chaos that will soon follow.

I'm not sure where my nice, calm, clean child has gone, but I've been left instead with this whirlwind of energy that is uncontrollable.

Run for your lives. Lock your food cupboards and toy closests.

You've been warned. Not responsible for any destruction that ensues or loss of sanity that results.

Oops. Gotta run. I hear the winds beginning to pick up. Destruction is near.

In Denial

2010-01-16T23:25:00.000-08:00

It's crazy to think in less than 16 weeks we will be adding baby #4 (a boy) to our family. Truthfully, I'm in denial.

Don't misunderstand me. We are beyond thrilled to have another baby. I'm in love with newborns and feel an indescribable sense of sadness when my babies transition into toddlerhood. Perhaps this sadness comes because the independence they naturally start to crave means Mom (me) is no longer the #1 person in their little lives. Or, it could also be because toddlerhood and the accompanying tantrums mean chaos for me.

Either way, as I've watched Landon (now 2) start to enter into this toddlerhood phase, I'm sad for the little baby I have lost. He's been such an amazingly joyful little soul, and I have found such fulfillment from being his mother. So much of my attention has been on him the past few months as he's been making remarkable strides in his own development that I've had little time to ponder the fact that his baby role in the family will soon be replaced by his little brother.

Now, the fact of an approaching due date has hit me. I cannot live in denial any longer. I will soon be the mother of 4! (Four?!!) Four little precious spirits sent to earth from their Heavenly home to my home, with an expectation that they will be loved, cared for and taught truth. The more I think about the important role of motherhood, the more daunting it becomes. It is such a sacred trust, a special partnership with my husband and God. I am grateful that my Father in Heaven has blessed me with this amazing opportunity. I fall short of His expectations daily, but in the rare quiet moments of my day, as I have an opportunity to remember the joys of motherhood & the few things I do right, I know somehow He is still proud of me and my efforts. It makes me excited and nervous to contemplate becoming a mother all over again in just a few short months.

It's time to prepare for the new little one who will soon enlarge my heart all over again and help me to better understand our Father's love for us.

I am in denial no longer...

A Girl Can Dream...Right?

2010-01-13T22:30:00.001-08:00

Josh is constantly asking me throughout the year for gift ideas. "Your birthday is coming up," he'll say, "What do you want?" Or, "I have some ideas for our anniversary, but want to add something to it. Is there anything special you would like to receive?" Usually, I can't think of anything and let him do his best to surprise me. However, with Valentine's Day around the corner and our 12 year anniversary approaching in a few months, I gave my "wish list" a little more consideration.

Generally, I'm a very practical girl. However, as I'm getting closer to delivering our 4th child, I'm thinking it's time that I finally get a thing or two with some lasting quality.

Here are some ideas, Josh, just in case you happen to need some. (Haha.)

1. "Big Star": Maddie jeans from Buckle . (These could serve as some post-partum weight loss incentive come May...)

2. Juicy Couture Perfume (My current bottle is almost gone...I'm sure you want me to continue to smell good, right? Wouldn't want to be the stinky kid in class.)

3. A new phone with a texting plan (I've decided to leave the dinosaur age behind and join the "cool" texting kids.) 4. Coach purse (O.K... this might be a little far-fetched, but a girl's gotta dream, right? P.S. I promise not to keep spare packs of fruit snacks, crayons or wetwipes in it for the kids.)

Precious

2010-01-11T08:38:00.000-08:00

Transitioning my barely 2 year old (who is currently too afraid to attempt climbing out of his crib) to a "big boy bed" is not my idea of fun. I like having a place I can put Landon for "time outs" when needed. However, in a little less than 4 months we will need the crib for the new baby, and thus the transfer process had to begin.

Here is Landon sleeping in the trundle of Jacob's bed. I came in late that night to check on him and thought it was so precious to discover Jacob snuggled up to Landon. Oh how I love those boys! (Sad to say...the next few nights were not as successful. Landon was uncooperative and constantly came out of his room.)

Friday Flashback: Halloween 2009

2010-01-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

Halloween just might be my absolute favorite holiday. Sorry to all of you Christmas fans out there. (I do LOVE Christmas too, but there is just something so fun about playing make believe in dress up clothes for an entire month & decorating with witches, ghosts, goblins and pumpkins!)

This year, our family decided to all go as Harry Potter characters, probably influenced by Jacob's decision to have a Harry Potter birthday party a couple months later. We had a ton of fun! Oh, and so did the kids!Here are a few pictures from various Halloween events (Church "Trunk or Treat", adult Halloween costume party, Preschool Costume parade, etc):

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: Special Mid-Winter B-day Session

2010-01-06T11:56:00.000-08:00

Starring: New Head Boy, Jacob Carver

In honor of Jacob's 8th Birthday, we planned a Harry Potter party. Almost a year ago, he mentioned that he'd like that as his theme. Slowly, over the course of the past few months, a plan began to take shape. It wasn't long before I knew that this party would be like no other we had done before.

Invitations: We decided to send a Hogwarts acceptance letter as our invitation. And of course, it had to be hand delivered via owl post. Each envelope had an official wax seal bearing the letter "H" for Hogwarts. Because they were hand delivered I was able to use the Harry Potter address: Cupboard Under the Stairs, 4 Privet Drive etc. which the kids thought was fun. (For the paper bag owl pattern, go here . )

(Click to enlarge the letter for wording purposes.) The font was Blackladder ITC in a custom green color and the Hogwarts logo was found off the Internet.

Platform 9 3/4:

As all Harry Potter fans know, the only way to catch the Hogwarts Express is by accessing it via Platform 9 3/4, which is invisible to Muggle eyes. It is a brick wall found in between Platform 9 and Platform 10 at King's Cross Station. Would-be wizards must run through the barrier to hop aboard the magical train that will take them from London to Hogsmeade. Here is a picture of Platform 9 3/4 from the Harry Potter movies.
We knew the new students attending our special session of Hogwarts would need to catch the Hogwarts Express by accessing it via Platform 9 3/4 so construction of our own brick wall began. (It's amazing what a cheap shower curtain from Ross, a sponge and some red paint can do!)

Here's Jacob, getting ready to run through the wall to board the train!

Eager wizards, getting ready to bravely run through the wall!
An outside look at King's Cross Station.

All Aboard Hogwarts Express:

We wanted to give all of our wizards an opportunity to access Platform 9 3/4 and hop aboard the Hogwarts Express before arriving at Hogsmeade and continuining on with the party. Once the wizards ran through the brick wall, they were met with the smoke from the train (fog machine) and Harry Potter music. They quickly found their seats on the train and got busy filling out the "How Well Do You Know Hogwarts Students and Staff" sheet where they had to match the pictures with the names. (Two winners received Harry Potter Droobles Best Blowing Gum.)

Diagon Alley:
Diagon Alley is the hub for all wizard shopping needs. We decided to take our little wizards shopping so they could pick up their much needed school supplies, prior to arriving at Hogwarts.

First stop: Gringotts Wizarding Bank
Here, our wizards were given pouches of gold with which to buy their school supplies.
Next stop: Ollivander's Fine Wand Shop

To make the wands, Josh bought dowels from the craft store and made a lathe out of his drill and carved each wand by hand so that they were unique. He then stained them with various shades of stain and sealed each wand with a clear spray paint so the stain wouldn't rub off on the kid's hands. They turned out fabulous, and the kids were so excited to pick out their wand, or rather, have their wand "choose them" (as all wizards know, it is the wand that chooses the wizard).

Next Stop: Flourish & Blotts

Here, students picked up their potion jars and Spell & Charm books.

Other Shops passed along the way:

Quality Quidditch Supplies
Eeylops Owl Emporium Madam Malkins, Makers of Fine Robes

The Great Hall/ Sorting Hat Ceremony:

Following the shopping trip to Diagon Alley, students were taken to Hogwarts where they met together in the Great Hall for the traditional Sorting Hat Ceremony. Each wizard had the sorting hat placed on his/her head. After much thought, the Sorting Hat would shout out (via walkie talkies) which house the student had been placed in (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin). The kids thought this was funny. The house divisions would come in handy later on in the party for the Quidditch teams.

Potions Class with Professor Snape:

Unfortunately, Professor Snape was ill, and therefore, I (Professor McGonagall) was forced to fill in. Potions class was a ton of fun. Students had the opportunity to make Snape's Slime as well as learn a special potion concoction for predicting the future (just a simple vinegar and baking soda mixture).
Snape's Slime Recipe:

2 oz. Elmer's White glue mixed with 1/4 cup water (in one bowl) Add food coloring of choice.

1/4 tsp. Borax mixed with with 1/4 cup warm water (in separate bowl) until majority of Borax is dissolved

Combine two mixtures and stir quickly. Use hands to form slime ball. Squeeze out any excess liquid and discard.

Store in air-tight container.

Quidditch:

After Potions class it was time to expend some energy in a House Quidditch Tournament.

End of Birthday Session Cake & Presents:

Students returned to the Great Hall for the end of term birthday celebration complete with Hedwig Owl Cupcakes and Butter Beer (Cream Soda) while they enjoyed watching Jacob open his Muggle-inspired gifts.

Surprise Trip to Honeydukes Candy Shop (Party Favor Bags):
If you've seen the movies or read the books you surely know about Honeydukes and some of the most famous Harry Potter candies: Chocolate frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Ice Mice, Droobles, Acid Pops, Blood Pops as well as Albus Dumbledore's favorite muggle candy, Lemon Drops.

For some reason these candies are impossible to find locally & are insanely expensive online. However, a few trips to the Dollar Store & some creative labeling and we came up with our own line of Harry Potter worthy candy.
A few final pictures:

I Hereby Resolve...

2010-01-06T00:50:00.000-08:00

Wow! Making goals to last an entire year is tough! First, you have to think of things that you really want to change, improve upon or start doing. Second, you have to choose goals that are reachable within the time frame of a year. And finally, you have to DO them!

I hereby resolve to:

1. Be more patient with these individuals.

2. Become more physically fit. (Lose pregnancy weight BEFORE Hawaii.)

3. Learn how to use more of the snazzy features on my camera.

4. Replenish/Rotate our food storage.

5. Organize/purge garage.

6. Save for new couches/furniture in living room.

7. Teach myself to use Photoshop.
8. Get my Christmas cards done in July.
9. Improve my daily spiritual feasting.
10. Try something or go somewhere new!

A New Decade: Welcoming in 2010

2010-01-05T10:31:00.000-08:00

With all the other craziness of this year's holiday season, I completely forgot (until New Year's Eve)the significance of this year's New Year's Eve. Welcoming in a new decade only comes every 10 years. Normally, we would have thrown a big party at our house, but with company in town and many other signficant events we gladly accepted Mom and Dad Price's invitation to have a low-key New Year's at their home.
Mom whipped up one of her amazing dinners (my favorite): Chicken picata & mushroom gravy, brown rice, fresh steamed green beans, raspberry jello salad, and rolls, followed by a dessert and appetizer smorgasboard.

We watched various countdowns across the nation, played U-NO and Yahtzee and tried our hardest to tire out our rambunctious kidlets. Finally, at 11 p.m. our time, our kids were beat. We cheated, claiming that we were celebrating the New Year on the Mountain Time Zone since Grandma and Grandpa Carver were visiting with us from Utah. We counted down, raised our plastic cups full of Martinellis Sparkling Cider and called it a night.

A Magical Christmas

2010-01-05T00:37:00.000-08:00

There's something so magical about Christmas morning. I remember the absolute thrill of waking up in the early morning hours to tap on each of my brothers and sister until they awoke. We always slept in the same bedroom, snuggled together so that none of us would be the last to know when Santa came. As I peeked in on my two oldest children this year, it was so fun to see them snuggled by one another, knowing they did not want to miss out on the excitement of Santa coming either.

It was around 7:00 a.m. when we heard them stirring. They quietly tip-toed in our room whispering the announcement that it was time to go downstairs to see if Santa had made a stop at our home. Somehow, we convinced them to make their beds and brush their teeth, buying ourselves some sorely needed extra minutes of sleep. About 20 minutes later, we led the kid crew downstairs, pausing to get a quick picture on the stairs. Then, one by one, we led them into the family room. Wrapping paper chaos soon ensued.

(Landon's loot from Santa.)
(Jacob was thrilled to see what Santa had left for him--especially the Pokemon DS game!)
(Kaylee's surprises from Santa.)

We had a wonderful day! Santa spoiled us rotten, as usual!

It's Great to Be Eight!

2010-01-04T18:52:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the most significant event of our holiday break didn't occur on Dec. 25th or Jan. 1st, but rather on Saturday, January 2nd as Jacob chose to be baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was a special day as we were surrounded by family and friends to witness Jacob take this important and necessary step.

Jacob was baptized by his dad (Josh), and had the privilege of having both grandpas here to witness his baptism. Following his baptism, Josh confirmed him a member of The Church and gave him the gift of the Holy Ghost.

As members of The Church, we believe that being baptized, as Jesus was, shows our willingness to follow His example and make covenants with God. As we are baptized, we take on Christ's name. We make special promises to keep His commandments and always remember Him.

After we are baptized, we receive a special gift--the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is a special member of the Godhead who helps us know the difference between right and wrong. He helps testify of truth. He is also known as the Comforter and can speak peace to our minds.

Something unique about our church is that in order to be a candidate for baptism, you must have reached the age of eight years old ("age of accountability"). This is the age that a child is old enough to determine right from wrong. This age was set by revelation. Because our sins are wiped away as we are baptized and we become wholly clean, it is important that we are old enough to be able to make correct decisions from that point forward and/or recognize when we have chosen wrong and exercise the power of repentance.

Some may wonder why we dress in white: white represents purity. Therefore, we do it to symbolize the washing away of sins and the purity that remains after baptism.

You may wonder why it is that as members of The Church we believe in baptism by immersion (complete dunking under water) vs. the sprinkling of water, common in other churches. We are immersed to represent the burial and resurrection of the Savior. As he was buried in the tomb, so we are buried in the water. As he came forth from the tomb to a newness of life as a resurrected person, so we come forth from baptism in water to a newness of a religious life on earth, serving the Lord and keeping his commandments.

So you see, baptism by immersion helps us remember the burial and resurrection of Christ. This is one reason baptism is so important to us.

We are so proud of Jacob and the decision he made to follow the Savior.

Friday Flashback: Frolicing at the Fair

2010-01-01T16:24:00.000-08:00

Remember last Friday's flashback pumpkin patch post where I mentioned the predictableness of our family? This post is yet another piece of convincing evidence. If you could be arrested for predictability, we'd have been convicted long ago.

Besides being known for having a name that is nearly unpronounceable, our somewhat honkey-tonk city of Puyallup (pronounced pew-Al- up) is known for hosting the biggest fair west of the Mississippi. (This could be urban legend, an old wives tale, or just something we Puyallup folks tell ourselves to make us feel better about living here...)Nevertheless, when the fair comes to town, you go. At least we go. It's another Carver family Fall tradition and we love it. There's something fun about letting the kids blow the monthly entertainment budget on jippy carnival rides & games, the most fattening (but oh-so-good) food and treats and souvenirs that you'd never think twice about buying anywhere but the fair. And, when we've gotten our fill of sugar and grease and our feet can't stand to take another step, we head to our cars with sticky faces and hands and the biggest smiles you can imagine...until the next Fall, when we can "Do the Puyallup" once again.

Here are some snapshots of this year's trip:

I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus

2009-12-27T23:24:00.000-08:00

Jacob celebrates his 8th birthday on Tuesday of this week. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, turning 8 is a big deal. It's the age children are old enough to choose to be baptized. We are so proud of Jacob for making the choice to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ and enter the waters of baptism. It has been such a blessing this past year to help prepare him to make this important step.

I want Jacob to know that I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it is true. I know that the greatest happiness we can attain in this life can only be found by following Him. The step Jacob is taking is the first of many important steps he will take in his lifetime to become more like the Savior. We love you Jacob!

T'was The Night Before Christmas...

2009-12-27T00:30:00.000-08:00

At our house, we love Christmas Eve just about as much as we love Christmas Day. A few of our traditions include:

Family feast: This year's dinner included a delicious beef tenderloin (filet mignon) roast with Bearnaise sauce, creamy mashed potatoes with gravy, freshly steamed asparagus with cheese sauce, raspberry jello salad & homemade rolls. Plus, to top it all off, Mom made delicious fudge and her popular strawberry tart for dessert.

We were thrilled that Nana & Papa could join us in celebrating Christmas this year. They are both so much fun and love participating in all of the traditions of Christmas.

Christmas lights: Generally, we drive around neighborhoods "famous" for their awesome light display. This year, we decided to check out the Spanaway light display--the largest outdoor light display in the Northwest.

Nativity: We always like to have a spiritual element to our evening as we seek to teach our children the true meaning of Christmas. They love dressing up and playing the role of Mary, Joseph, wisemen, etc...

(I thought this was the sweetest picture of our little wiseman kissing the baby Jesus.)

Open one present: This tradition began when I was a child and the present almost always consisted of opening a new pair of Christmas pajamas. We've continued this tradition our family. (Here is Landon opening his new pair of pjs.)

Setting out cookies for Santa/ stockings:

Stay tuned for our Christmas morning post. Lots of smiles.

Friday Flashback: Fall Fun

2009-12-25T15:35:00.000-08:00

Our family is so predictable. Maybe to a fault. Every Fall, we take the kids to our favorite local pumpkin patch (o.k... it's the only pumpkin patch I'm even familiar with...) and stock up on jack-be-littles, gourds, pumpkins, corn stalks and such for decorating our porch up for Fall. The kids LOVE going which makes it an easy family tradition to maintain. Here are are a few of our favorite pictures from this excursion:

Merry Christmas from the Carver Crew

2009-12-22T23:24:00.000-08:00

We feel so lucky each Christmas season as we pause to think about the year gone by and how our Father in Heaven has tremendously blessed us. Our lives are not perfect and challenges and trials still persist, but we are reminded constantly of a loving Heavenly Father who knows us, knows our names, our strengths, our weaknesses, the desires of our hearts & tailors blessings perfect for us.

We are so grateful for our knowledge of the Savior. We are especially grateful at this time of year for His humble birth. As Josh and I have had the opportunity to study the circumstances of Christ's birth a little deeper this year, the miracle of it all rings even truer for us. It is hard to comprehend such a humble beginning, but we know that even from the beginning of His life, He overcame all so that our lives might be made easier.

One thought that has persisted most of all this Christmas season is a quote (now one of our favorites)from Elder Neal A. Maxwell. He said, "Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus." While our family is far from perfect and frequently falls short of where we know we should be in our spiritual progression, we hope to always make room in our homes, and in our hearts and especially in our lives for the Savior.

We love you and wish you the merriest of Christmases this year!

My Gridiron Guy

2009-12-21T23:34:00.000-08:00

I wouldn't quite say that I coerced Jacob into playing football this year. Manipulated, might be a better choice of words because I did make the opportunity look a little more enticing by telling him he could play on the same team as one of his neighborhood buddies.

Those of you who know us well, know that we are a pigskin loving family. In fact, I'd say it is one of my absolute favorite sports to play and watch. So, when it came time for YMCA sign-ups and Jacob's choices were soccer or football, I heavily pushed the chance for him to play football. To my absolute suprise, he consented.

It was fun getting to watch him improve throughout the season. He began not knowing what the differences between offense and defense were. If you were to tell him to line up on the line of scrimmage, he'd give you a blank stare. If you asked him how many chances a team had to make a first down, he'd respond by saying, "what's a first down?" (Lol.) But, by the end of the season he could play defensive positions almost as well as offensive positions and looked forward to his practices and especially his games. I'd definitely say he was the most improved player on his team. We were so proud that he went out of his comfort zone to try something new.

Here are a few pictures of my gridiron guy.

Birthday Train...Coming Through.

2009-12-21T16:04:00.000-08:00

As if December isn't crazy busy enough already... We have several family birthdays this month. Josh's sister Lauren for one. My dad, is another one. Finally, we have our two boys who celebrate birthdays in December (Landon on the 13th and Jacob on the 29th). (Personal plea: Please, keep Josh and I in separate states during the month of March from now on, lol...Somehow March romance leads to crazy Decembers. Not sure how that happens. Wink, wink.)

This week we had the opportunity to host a little party to celebrate both my dad's 58th birthday and Landon's 2nd birthday. We enjoyed dinner out at Outback and came home to eat birthday cake and open gifts.
Landon loved the train cake that Josh helped me make. He also loved the train sets from us and my parents. For my dad, we decided to all go in as brothers and sisters and purchase him a ticket to the Mountain West Conference Basketball Championships in Las Vegas in March. That's always a favorite trip for him to take with my Mom. Instead of just handing Dad over the money for his ticket, we put together a little BYU gift bag, complete with pompoms, and other BYU paraphanelia. However, in order for Dad to "earn" his money, he had to answer 12 trivia questions about BYU basketball. Each question was put inside an envelope containing a certain amount of money ranging from about $10-20. If he got the answer wrong (which suprisingly enough, he did miss some), he had to hand the money over to my mom. Can't say she minded one bit. But, because all of us really wanted Dad to have the opportunity to take this trip, we ended the trivia question round with a bonus, winner-take-all question he was sure to get. Needless to say, Dad ended up with the funds to purchase his game tickets.

It was a fun night. The kids always love having Nana and Papa here.

Sugar Overload 2009

2009-12-19T22:59:00.000-08:00

I have fond memories of making gingerbread houses with my mom nearly every Christmas from the time I was pre-K through my teenage years even into my early college years. And, not to knock those of you who purchase the pre-packaged gingerbread kits (because heaven knows, my kids aren't even lucky enough to get those most years), but my mom made her gingerbread pieces from scratch. It was a labor of love and I loved working side-by-side with her to construct sugar magic. So, when Jacob's second grade teacher emailed me to see if I might like to help on "gingerbread house" making day at school, you can imagine my excitement! Not only did I get to farm out the other two children to spend some one-on-one time with my almost eight year-old (who has gotten ripped off in the mom time department as of late), but I also got to make memories with him doing something I knew he was sure to love.

And so without further ado, I introduce to you "Sugar Overload 2009".

Later in the week came candy train making time with Nana, an easier alternative to gingerbread houses for those of us with younger children who can't seem to be able to quite master the art of frosting and balancing graham crackers or gingerbread while simultaneously decorating them. This is another tradition my mom started with us when we were younger. I had fun teaching my classes of 6th graders how to make these and was reminded how fun it is while helping my mom teach my kids this week. They can hardly stand the wait to eat the train. (I'm not sure they realize how hard the special "glue" frosting we made is or how disgusting it tastes. Somehow, I don't think they'll care as they bite through it to get to the candy.)

Friday Flash Back: School Days

2009-12-18T00:04:00.000-08:00

Obviously, I was a major slacker on my blog during the early Fall months. Blame it on morning sickness, extreme fatigue or laziness. Either way, I did not have it in me to sit at my computer and do anything that involved thinking. So, I've decided that I'll do some random "Friday Flash Back" posts to share all the things I should've shared months ago.

Friday Flash Back Post #1: "Back 2 School 2009"

Here is a picture of Kaylee starting her first couple of days of preschool. She adores Mrs. Spencer and has learned so much from her this year and last year.

These two pictures of Kaylee crack me up. For those of you who know her, she sometimes acts like a little diva. She is full of personality (if you couldn't tell from her unprovoked poses in these pictures).

Here is Jacob, getting ready to head off for his first day of 2nd grade with some of the kids from the neighborhood. We love where we live. There are so many great families on our street!

And finally, a picture of Jacob with his best friend, Jacob L. These boys are two peas in a pod. I think they've made a silent pact that they will thwart any efforts either family makes to move away from the other. (We've already lived across the street from each other in two different neighborhoods.) They've been friends nearly all of their lives. Good friends are such a blessing.

Both Jacob and Kaylee are loving their school year thus far & are learning great things! What a wonderful gift good teachers are!

Ultrasound results are in...

2009-12-15T22:49:00.000-08:00

...and it looks like Kaylee maintains her reign as the solo princess in the family once again.

We are thrilled to be welcoming another little boy in early May (around the 7th). Preliminary indications appear that all is well with this baby (which is a welcome relief after the Down Syndrome worries we had with my last pregnancy).

Many friends and family members have asked us about names. We are at a loss! Our kids have definitely felt free to share their opinions, however, and continue to lobby tirelessly for their top choice. Unfortunately, most of their top picks are either named after favorite Disney show characters, their neighborhood buddies or cartoon characters. (To give you an idea... Moseby, Mater and Zack are just a few.) The only name we are seriously considering is Landon's pick. For the past few days he's been patting my stomach and saying, "nice baby Max". He's taken a recent liking to the Nick Jr. cartoon Max and Ruby, which I happen to love because it reminds me so much of the relationship Landon shares with his big sister Kaylee. So, we'll see if Max sticks. I happen to think it's kind of cute. I'm not sure if it would be straight out Max, or if Max would be short for Maxwell. Josh is still undecided. We have a few other names we're tossing around, but nothing solid yet.

Any name suggestions? Particularly any first names that go well with our last name? This is your chance to name our baby, lol... Think hard!

58 Years Young...

2009-12-14T14:57:00.000-08:00

In my life, I have been lucky enough to have been truly loved and adored by two men. The first man is my husband, Josh. But, before him was another.

Tomorrow (Dec. 15th), my dad celebrates his 58th birthday. I feel so lucky every day to have such an incredible dad. I love him so much. No matter how old I get, I will always be his little girl. I love having a strong relationship with him & value the time we are able to spend together. Some of my fondest memories were working together at his dental office during the summers of my junior high and high school years, and especially when I was home from college. I miss our lunch time talks and naps. He always said I was the best employee he ever had! (I'd have to agree.) I have sought his wisdom and advice often & have appreciated his constant support in all my decisions. I am grateful for his strength, example and testimony. He has always encouraged us to do our very best and set our goals high. This principle has brought much happiness into my life.

My dad has always wanted the best for all of his children, especially his 2 daughters. I’ll never forget my 12th birthday. That is somewhat of a “coming of age” birthday in our religion. A girl advances from the children’s organization at church (“Primary”) to what is known as the “Young Women Organization”. In honor of this special birthday Dad (with help from Mom, I’m sure), planned a special birthday date night for the two of us. Dad told me to get dressed up in a new outfit he and Mom had purchased for me, and we went to a nice restaurant (Coco’s in FW) and enjoyed dinner and dessert, just the two of us. At some point during our meal, he pulled out a small gift box and handed it to me. I opened it to find a beautiful diamond ring. It was gold, with a tiny diamond. Dad called it a “promise ring” and put it on my ring finger and asked me if I would promise to wear the ring until I had found a handsome young man who desired to replace that ring and was worthy to take me to the temple to be married for time and all eternity. I’m pleased to say I kept that promise. I wore that ring until Josh replaced it on Feb. 14, 1998 and continued to wear it on my right hand until just recently when the little diamond finally fell out from years of wear. Through out my teenage years, when I happened to glance down and see that ring, I was reminded of a simple promise I’d made to my dad to remain worthy for the man who would some day replace that ring with one I’d wear for the rest of my life. I’m grateful for a father who always took the time to teach me important life lessons.

Dad, I hope you know how much we all love you! Happy Birthday!

Choo...choo! Look Who's Two!

2009-12-13T22:19:00.001-08:00

Landon turned 2 years old today. I can hardly stand it. He's growing up way too fast. He's been my easiest baby and toddler by far. Here are a few things I want to remember about Landon at this age:

1. He LOVES trains and asks to play with them daily. He'll come up to me and say, "what does a train say?" Immediately after, he'll answer his own question and reply, "choo choo".

2. He LOVES cars and one of his favorite movies is Cars. He knows all of the main character's names and will proudly name them when they appear on screen (McQueen, Doc, Sally, Mater, etc...) Similar to the train question mentioned above, he'll enthusiastically ask me or Josh, "what does a car say?" And of course, the token response is always, "vroom vroom".

3. He likes to play blocks. He's so much like Jacob was at this age. He enjoys sorting and stacking, making rows and counting. He almost has counting to 10 figured out (with a few numbers missing or jumbled up in there...).

4. This child likes to be clean. He'd live in the bathtub if you'd let him. I can't tell you how many times I've put him in his crib so I can sneak a quick bubble bath, only to glance out into my room to see that he's quickly taken off all of his clothes hoping his naked body will somehow convince me that he needs another bath too. He's smart, because usually it works in his favor!

5. Landon has recently taken a new interest in stickers. Yes, you heard me right, stickers! Often, I gather Kaylee and Landon in my craft room while I am working on a project and start them on their own art activity. Kaylee wanted to put stickers on a picture she was making for a friend to "decorate" it. Since Landon wants to be big like Kaylee, he quickly adopted her decorating antics and has been hooked ever since. I have to say that it has been a life saver at church. I pull out a few sheets of stickers left over from my teaching days and he'll get through the first hour of church peeling and applying his stickers to paper.

6. He's a vulture. This kid can scavenge/forage food like no other. And, the kid can pound down the food like he's unsure of where he will be getting his next meal. Seriously. He out-eats both of his older siblings. This fact might explain why he is already moving from size 2T clothing to 3T clothing. You can be sure that the first words out of his mouth each morning will be, "eat food", usually followed by a desperate "pLEAse"!

7. He's by far our most polite child. He almost always says, "please" and "thank you". Recently, he learned to say "no way" when responding to something that he either A.) didn't want or B.) didn't want to do. Papa, taking immediate advantage of a teaching moment, taught him to instead say, "no thank you" and it stuck. What 2 year old, when told it's bed time will respond, "no thank you"?

8. He is an obedient, helpful little boy. I'm amazed each day when I see him get off the bed where I've changed his diaper and unprompted, go and throw it in the garbage. He cheerfully sings the clean up song and picks up his toys, takes dirty clothes to the laundry room and shuts open drawers, cupboards and doors. (Hmm, I wonder where he gets those tendencies, lol.)

9. Josh loves the fact that when he asks Landon whether he'd like to watch cartoons or football, Landon always responds "football". Landon certainly loves to shoot a basketball and run around kicking and throwing any kind of ball.

10. Landon gives amazing hugs. Ask him for a "big squeeze" and you will have a little boy squeezing you with all his might and making the cutest grunting noise letting you know he is trying his hardest to show you his love.

You are one amazing little boy Landon. Your daddy and I love you SO much! We look forward to a fun train party with you on Thursday when we get together with Papa and Nana to celebrate your and Papa's birthdays.

...And they lived happily ever after.

2009-11-09T18:32:00.000-08:00

Keep my friends Kristin and Adam in first place to win the wedding dress of Kristin's dreams! Have you voted? It's so easy. Simply click the link and vote. Also, leaving a review/comment wins Kristin huge points. It's such a small sacrifice to make when "happily ever after" is at stake.

How Does Priscilla of Boston Inspire You?

Sponsored by Priscilla of Boston

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A little bit more about Kristin and Adam (if you are new to their story...read the post below this one): This is a picture of the ring Adam gave to Kristin when he asked her to marry him after a few years of dating.

Why, you might be wondering, am I posting about it? Because it represents the start to their "happily ever after". After being proposed to on a cruise ship, surrounded by most of their closest friends, Kristin, filled with emotion & through tears, replied "yes" and Adam slipped this gorgeous ring on her finger. Since that momentous day, the couple has been busy planning their New England farm-style wedding. Adam & Kristin have both been dreaming of this day for a long time. You can help play a BIG part in making their wedding a little bit more special by voting and sharing their story.

Every girl dreams of the dress she will wear as she commits to a lifetime of love. Few have the opportunity to win their dream dress. With your help, Kristin is currently in FIRST PLACE in this contest. However, there are still 7 more days of voting and she needs your help to keep her in the lead.

A Dream Come True Wedding?

2009-10-26T15:54:00.001-07:00

Meet my friend Adam & his lovely bride-to-be, Kristin.

Adam and Kristin have an amazing love story.

At the risk of sounding like complete computer nerds, Kristin and Adam met online at the ages of 11 and 12, respectively. It was love at first a/s/l when they decided to swap pictures via snail mail. Though Kristin thought Adam was dreamy, Adam thought Kristin "would be prettier" (and I quote!). Kristin was heartbroken, and their internet friendship went on the backburner for a good ten years.

Fast forward to 2004, when Kristin was living and working in NYC, and Adam had just graduated from the State Police Academy in New Jersey. They found each other online once again (on purpose, this time) and at once remembered exactly why they had fallen for the other in the first place. Adam and Kristin saw more recent pictures of one another, and were pleasantly surprised at how the other, eh hem, had turned out. Adam's wit and charm hadn't changed over the years, and he left Kristin many a funny voicemail trying to get her to call him back (funny how the tables have turned!). Kristin finally obliged, and they agreed to meet in New Jersey, where Kristin's family had since moved, the night after Thanksgiving. It was love at first sight, and even though they were hanging out for the first time, they felt as though they had known each other for years. (After all, they had!) And the rest is history.

As amazing as their story is, it only gets better! They are currently in the middle of planning their New England-inspired October 2010 wedding and have an amazing opportunity to win the wedding dress of Kristin's dreams. It will just take a little bit of help from sentimental, romantic people like YOU! Please vote, by clicking the "VOTE" button below.

How Does Priscilla of Boston Inspire You?

Sponsored by Priscilla of Boston

If you really want to help me help them, also "share" this link on your blog, facebook page, twitter, etc... How often do you get the chance to really help another person obtain their fairytale wedding? Not often. Here's your chance! Thanks so much!

It Takes Two to Make a Thing Go Right...

2009-09-18T16:36:00.001-07:00

...and sometimes, it takes two tests to confirm the accuracy of the results. I'd say we're pretty certain that baby Carver #4 will be joining our family around May 9, 2010. Are you shocked? We were! But, we are also very excited and grateful for the opportunity to add to our little family. Keep us in your prayers. Exhaustion has already set in. :)

Please leave us a comment with name suggestions for both genders! We need help!

A New Favorite Summer Tradition

2009-09-14T22:39:00.000-07:00

I know. I know. Summer has been over for a few weeks now. School is back in session. Yada. Yada. I just thought I'd let you all in on one of our new favorite summer traditions: camping at Banks Lake. I can call it a tradition because we've now done it two years in a row and already have it on our calendar for next year. It's one of those experiences that only takes participating in once & then you and your children are hooked and can't imagine missing it. We've been participating now for 2 years, although unfortunately, we had to pass up the opportunity for 5 years previous. Our good friends, the Jones family (I have known them since I was a teenager), have been going on this trip with their family for 20 years. Most of the families that go on this trip, also have some deep-rooted connection to the Jones, either by familial tie or close-knit friendship. If you've never been, plan a trip. The setting is gorgeous, and there is so much to do with the lake right on the edge of camp. Our children live in their bathing suits happily playing in the sand & water, fishing, digging, canoeing, skiing, boating and eating S'mores to their hearts delight. As a mother, it is the perfect summer get-away, where the kids can get dirty, stay up late & run around as much as they want. As much fun as the kids have, the fun for adults is equally matched. We stay up late chatting, telling stories & jokes, playing games & scaring the pants off each other. It's the best!

Happy Belated Birthday to My Sweetie

2009-09-14T21:57:00.001-07:00

I had every intention of writing a "33 reasons my husband is so wonderful" post for Josh's birthday, but I knew I wouldn't be able to stop at 33, and the thought of typing thousands of lines seemed too daunting, so the post never happened (at least this is the *excuse* I'm sticking with....) We did celebrate & had an amazing time with wonderful friends eating at Olive Garden & working our Alfredo off at the bowling alley for a little guy vs. girl bowling action. (Check out my bowling cupcakes. Yeah, not sure if I will ever make those again. Sooo time consuming. But you were worth it Josh!)

Reliving the Glory Days...

2009-08-12T23:37:00.001-07:00

It had been far too long since I'd seen most of the people pictured below. A little over 16 years ago, we sauntered across the stage at the Tacoma Dome, proudly donning our caps and gowns to become Kentwood High School's Class of 1993 graduates. I cannot believe how fast time has flown since then. It seems like yesterday...really. Yet as we met for a little impromptu KW reunion at the Ram Restaurant in Kent, it was amazing to catch up on each other's lives, to hear about love, family, jobs, loss, success & years of experiences. It was fun remembering old times & making new memories. What wonderful people! Here's to many more great reunions!

{See Jen. See Jen run. Funny, funny Jen.}

2009-08-05T23:25:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the old Dick & Jane books from the 70's?

I do.

Last month, I felt like I was living one.

"See Jen. See Jen run. Funny, funny Jen."

I started the month of July out running. Literally. A dozen of my close friends ran the Seattle Rock 'N Roll half marathon the last weekend of June and although I swore to myself that I'd never succumb to peer pressure, especially not where running was involved, my will weakened while watching my friends dig deep to complete an exhausting goal. It was truly inspiring.

You've heard of runner's high? I felt it...and I hadn't even been running. That feeling stayed with me until the next week where I started adding a l-i-t-t-l-e running to my workout routines. Before I knew it, I was up to a f-e-w miles, & then my sly friends Jodi and Anna somehow tricked me into running 4 (f-o-u-r)miles with them. They were so kind and patient with my snail's pace & kept me going when I know I'd otherwise have probably quit after 2 or 3 miles. The whole experience was somewhat spiritual. I know you runners out there can relate. It's an incredible feeling being prodded on by positive encouragement, doing something you weren't sure you could do.

(Josh compares my running to Phoebe's mad running skillz on Friends...click on the video to see. So funny. Personally, I don't think I'm quite that bad. Just don't ask Jodi or Anna for their opinions.)

My body took nearly 5 (f-i-v-e) days to recover. Sad. I know. I'm sure it was comical watching me do ordinarily simple tasks like walk down the stairs, sit down, stand up, or even walk. Sore does not even begin to describe the pain I was experiencing. But, I must say, that I surprised myself and ran again as soon as I could. I have not repeated that distance...yet, but will.

Unfortunately, as soon as I was getting back into a running groove, I ever-so-gracefully bit the dust to save 10 dozen handmade truffles from certain destruction. (I'm sure Martha would've been proud.) The bridal shower goers were grateful, but my knees were not. They took the brunt of the fall and the remaining scabs are my proof that I'm not just making up excuses not to run (or water ski or wakeboard...I missed out on those fun camping activities as well).

I finally was able to run for the first time today, and it's been 2 weeks. Oddly enough, I missed it. (Really, who am I?) It feels great to be back on track. I'm sure bystanders watching me huff and puff think to themselves,

"See Jen. See Jen run. Funny, funny Jen."

But, hey, I'm doing it. Slowly, but surely I'm chugging along.

"I think I can. I think I can."

Oh wait, that's another story from childhood...

Jodi, Anna & Tasha: you just might turn me into a runner yet.

Needless to say, July flew by. Here is a small sampling of the fun we were up to last month:

{THE FOURTH}

Simple. Neighborhood BBQ. Family. Friends. Food. Fireworks. Perfect.

{CUSTOM SCRAPBOOK WORK}

Seven layouts. Designed. Created. Finished.

{BRIDAL SHOWER}

Note to self: when carrying 10 dozen truffles, watch your step!

{HOME DECORATING}

Yes. Finally. New bedroom furniture for Jake. New couches for me.

We finally got rid of these beauties.

Stay tuned for pictures of Jake's new room (we're almost finished)and the new leather couches for the bonus room!

{COUSIN REUNION}
My house. McDonald's lunch + Slip 'N Slide + Ice Cream + Wii Sports= A whole lotta fun!

{BANKS LAKE CAMPING TRIP}

Picture overload. Coming to a blog near you. August 2009.

Here is the teaser.

August is already off to a fast pace. More posts coming soon. I promise.

Spending to Save...

2009-07-14T17:12:00.000-07:00

So I'm not sure if I'm alone in this, but this week as I've continued with my bargain & coupon craze, my husband has issued a lot of "just don't go overboard on the buying" statements as he's seen me come in with bag after bag after bag (after bag after bag...) and figures I couldn't possibly have gotten THAT good of a deal on ALL of this stuff. I know ultimately he trusts me (after all, I am in charge of the household finances), but I have taken it upon myself to truly convince him of my wise spending by showing him how much I've saved & projecting the future & telling him how buying all of these items now, while they are dirt cheap will save us so much money in the long run because we won't run out & have to buy the item at full price. I think he's starting to appreciate my craziness. Here are two examples of my latest shopping trips.

First, "Christmas in July: Part 2". I made another trip to Kmart's amazing clearance on top of clearance toy sale. Once again, I combined the already low prices with additional $5 off $20 toy purchase coupons I printed from home. For about $50, I got everything pictured below. It's well over $400 worth of toys. To give you an idea, just the Baby Alive alone retailed for $59.99. I got my entire cart load for less than just that one toy retail.

Second, Albertsons. I was able to purchase everything pictured (including two gallons of milk) for $55.xx, plus received a free Redbox rental, $2 coupon off my next store purchase & purchased 10 qualifying products for the Kellogg's $10"Fuel for School" promotion featured here. Many people wonder how I am able to save 2x what I spend on groceries. My secret is using manufacturer coupons found in Sunday's paper (I only buy one...but imagine your savings if you picked up extra copies), mailbox mailers, in-store coupon machines & also printable coupons found online & combining them with store sales, store coupons & additional promos and rebates. If you are interested in some of my online coupon sources, leave me a comment & I'll do a future post about my online couponing sources.

Christmas in July!!!

2009-07-10T21:35:00.000-07:00

So, not only am I crazy for coupons, I'm now officially addicted to finding incredible deals. In my previous post, I referred you to www.thebargainjargon.com where I spend a few minutes every day checking out ways to stretch my dollar. Well, one of the deals she highlighted was in regards to a K-Mart toy clearance sale. K-Mart periodically marks down select toys, but this week, in addition to the current clearance prices, you get to take an additional 50% off . The deal is made even sweeter if you go here and print off the $5 off a $20 purchase coupons. I printed off 5 and used them all! (Note: I had to do 5 separate transactions in order to use each coupon.) For a little less than a $100 (including tax), this is what I came away with:

Transformer Animated Roll Out Command Optimus Prime (retail $55.99)
PlaysKool Easy Dunk Basketball (retail $14.99)
Vtech V.Smile Art Studio (retail $29.99)
The Amazing Spiderman Swing N' Sling Guitar (retail $29.99)
Mega Bloks Legends King Arthur set (retail $39.99)
Bella Dancerella Swan Lake Home Ballet Studio (retail $29.99)
Fisher-Price GeoTrax takes to the Skies (retail $24.99)
Barbie Gymnastic Divas Styling Head (retail $14.99)
Star Wars "Clone Tuber" Mr Potato Head (retail $11.99)
Girltech Video Journal w/ Camera (retail $29.99)
Disney Princess Enchanted Electronic Activity Magical Pal (retail $11.49)
Milton Bradley "LuckyDucks" motorized matching game (retail $23.99)
2- LeapFrog I Spy Imagine That Activity Storybooks (retail $13.99 each)
Color Screen Uno Electronic hand held game (retail $24.99)

Total Retail Value: $361.35 (pre-tax)

My total out-of-pocket: $87.50 (pre-tax)

My total out-of-pocket including tax: $95.64

Pretty Amazing! I will use some of the toys as birthday gifts & save most of them for Christmas presents for my kids.

Crazy for Coupons!

2009-07-03T19:40:00.000-07:00

O.K., so we all like to find good deals, & heaven knows with the economy the way it is, we certainly don't mind saving a buck or two. I used to be really good to clip coupons & use them in combination with store sales & store coupons. Lately, I've gotten lazy & haven't been as frugal as I should be. But, that all changed...

Today, I recommitted myself...and have become crazy for coupons once again! Here is what $66 (give or take a few cents) got me today:

7 boxes of Caprisuns
7 boxes of cereal
7 boxes of PopTarts (which earned me a free movie ticket...at least a $7.50 value)
6 jars of Skippy Peanut butter
4 boxes of Cinnabon breakfast bars
12 full-sized Hersheys chocolate bars (for summer S'mores)
9 packages of Pepperidge Farms Goldfish crackers
3 packages of Oreos
4 boxes of Kraft Mac 'N Cheese
4 HUGE cans of Bush's baked beans
1 container of Crystal Light drink mix
1 package of Crystal Light on the Go mixes

Now I know some of you who are even crazier for coupons than I am could have bought this same amount for less because you've been stockpiling good coupons for longer, but this is what I did with this week's newspaper ads & a few online coupon sources. I thought it was pretty fantastic. I spent $66 & saved well over $100.

If you're looking for a good place to start, visit this website: http://www.thebargainjargon.com/. Scroll through some old posts. You don't have to live locally to appreciate some of these fantastic deals!

2009-06-19T15:20:00.001-07:00

A Father's Day

Happy Meal

All

beef patty
special sauce
lettuce
cheese
pickles
onions
on a

sesame seed

bun.

If you're looking for something extra special to fix for Father's Day dessert, this is sure to bring a smile to any father's face. Muffins, brownies & sugar cookies make up this Happy Meal. Want to know how to duplicate it? Go here. I just made up a bunch for our Father's Day celebration. They are adorable and so easy!!

May I have the envelope please...

2009-06-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

Drumroll...

The results of the first

Carver Crew Blog Giveaway

are in.

Results have been certified by the Carver Crew of public counters.

And the winners of the100th Blog Post Giveaway are:

Mitchell Maddness (Itunes Gift Card)
Mary Mortensen (Baskin Robins Gift Certificate)

Thanks to all those that entered. Odds of winning were not dependent on how creative your comments were (but I appreciated your thoughtful answers) and no purchase was necessary.

Winners: Please send me a message via FB, including your name & address (if I don't already have it).

Congratulations!

Because giving feels so good...

2009-06-12T12:25:00.000-07:00

The BIG 100th Post
Blog Give Away

One hundred is HUGE in my book. In honor of my 100th blog post, I'm giving away, not one, but two prizes FREE! That's right folks...my favorite four letter word: FREE! You can be the proud new owner of either a $10 ITunes giftcard or a gift certificate to one of my favorite ice cream parlors, simply by entering my blog give away. Why am I doing this? Because it's fun!

Here's the nitty gritty:

Simply leave a comment on this blog post with your name & something fun you are looking forward to doing this summer. I will use a random number generator to determine 2 lucky winners. Contest ends Tuesday, June 16th @ 9 p.m. PST. The winner will be announced sometime on Wednesday.

And, to kick off the summer...here are some of the summer things I'm most looking forward to:

1. sleeping in

2. flip flops

3. capris

4. slip 'n slides

5. popsicles

6. smoothies

7. summer salads

8. bbq-ing

9. late summer nights

10. eating outside

11. park days

12. sunscreen

13. fireworks

14. beach days

15. outings to the zoo

16. water skiing

17. boating

18. camping

19. road trips

20. relaxing schedule

Welcome to summer! Woohoo!

2009-06-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER

The title of this post is somewhat misleading. School is out for summer, but only for Kaylee. Today was her last day of preschool. Can you believe that we are in the middle of June and Jacob still has one week of school left to go? We can thank an unusually heavy snowfall in winter for 3 school make up days.

Kaylee grew leaps and bounds this year. Our family loves Mrs. Spencer & Our World 2 Discover Preschool. In fact, she is such a popular teacher that I already have Landon (18 months) on the waiting list for her 3 year old class. She provides such a wonderful environment which encourages autonomy & discovery while promoting high expectations and fun. Each of my children has adored Margaret & can hardly stand the summer break without her.

After preschool today, Mimi and her adorable daughter Ellie hosted an end-of-the-year summer splash. The kids from the preschool had an absolute blast playing in the backyard in the kiddie pool and on the water slide. There were great snacks and refreshing treats. It was the perfect way to end a great school year & kick off the summer.

2009-06-08T00:03:00.001-07:00

I Love to See the Temple

A week ago Saturday, our children were invited to attend a special Primary (the organization for children in our church) activity at the grounds of the Seattle Temple. It was a gorgeous day. The kids were invited to walk around the grounds and learn about why temples are sacred and important in our faith. At the conclusion of their tour, they were able to sit quietly in the waiting area just inside the temple doors and hear some special words from one of the temple workers who explained to the children that the temple, is the "House of the Lord". I was reminded of how important the temple is to us as members of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints, & that the work that is done inside allows us to be sealed as families, not just for time, but for all eternity. I reflected on my own marriage in the Salt Lake City, UT temple and how grateful I am that my marriage is eternal & my family relationships can be forever.

*If you are not of our faith, but are interested in learning about why temples are such an important part of our religion, click HERE .

Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions about the temple:

What is the purpose of the temple? To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the temple is the "House of the Lord." It is a sacred building, and after its dedication only faithful members of the Church may enter. Inside, members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to serve Jesus Christ and their fellow man. In addition, they participate in religious ceremonies that reach beyond mortality, such as baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors and eternal marriage.

What is it like inside the temple? Many people are under the impression that the interior of a Latter-day Saint temple is like a great hall or cathedral. Actually, temples are made up of a number of rooms designed to accommodate certain functions such as marriages, baptisms and instructional sessions. Inside the temple, Church members change into simple, modest white clothing previous to performing their temple labors. The white temple clothing is symbolic of purity and reverence.

Will members of the public ever see the inside of the temple? Yes. After the temple is completed, there will be an organized open house (typically multiday) for the general public. During the open house, information will be provided to explain the different functions and ceremonies performed in the temple and answer questions. After the open house, the temple will be dedicated to the Lord and open only to worthy Church members.

What is the difference between a temple and a meetinghouse? Regular Sunday worship, instruction and other social and recreational activities occur in Latter-day Saint meetinghouses, or chapels. In temples, on the other hand, faithful members receive specific instruction about the purpose of life and their relationship to God. There they take part in family-oriented ordinances, both for themselves and in behalf of deceased ancestors. Sacred ordinances available only in temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

What will happen to the value of the property around the temple? As visible symbols of honor and reverence to God, Latter-day Saint temples are built using the finest craftsmanship and materials available. Further, they are beautifully landscaped and maintained. In all, they are designed to complement the community and enhance the environment.

2009-06-04T14:49:00.001-07:00

If Women Ruled the World...

Thanks to Mrs. Princess Pookie for these funny pictures. Hopefully, you all got a great laugh out of these photos like I did.