Why does my heart with gladness sing????

If you are like me I am sure you have Spring Fever!!! I know I sure do. Yesterday I took my kids outside in the Warm, Beautiful, Sunshine!! I remember being little and spending Hours playing outside with my neighbor friends. I want my kids to have the same memories. Emily has got a cute little friend Paige, that lives right next to us and the play so good and are so much fun to Listen and Watch. Here are some precious little pictures I took yesterday.

Such a big guy!! He loves to try and keep up with Emily. She is fast but he is practicing and will soon smoke her.

Look at that face!! Darling and so innocent....right??? Well when she is doing what she likes that pretty much describes this girl. She was having so much fun playing outside with her friend. I think she is just as sick of being cooped up as I am. Love that face!!

Mr. Mischievous!!! He too is all sweet and innocent...most of the time, when he is not flooding our friends bathroom, climbing on cupboards or throwing cereal on the floor only to stomp on it as much as possible. Lately he hasn't wanted his diaper changed and I thought it was because the brand of diaper bugged him, so I switched back to good ole' Huggies and he still didn't want it on. I found out today that he wants Lightning McQueen underpants (He calls them panties and it makes Ben shiver, we keep re-iterating them as "big boy underpants"). So potty training here we come!

One of my favorite primary songs is "Because it's Spring"---I could feel this way if only the sunshine would stay and the snow would stop....sigh....someday!!!

Because it's Spring
Why is the sky so blue and clear?
Why is the robin's song so dear?
Why is the sun so warm and bright
Filling the Earth with glorious light?
Why are the fields so green today?
Why do the clouds all float away?
Why does my heart with gladness sing??????
ONLY BECAUSE IT'S SPRING!!!

A few changes...a few updates and a lot of nonsense

So a few months ago I decided to change my blog to private and I have come to realize that I didn't update my blog just for me, I did it for others as well. It is fun for me to share my joys, sorrows and just plain everyday life with others. Since my blog was private it didn't show when I updated it and no one looked at it...(boo hoo hoo) it became lame and not so fun...so it will be going back to public and I hope I have more ambition to update it.

So here are some updates....

Emily went to her first Dentist appointment and LOVED it (other than the flouride part, I really thought she was going to throw up). She always is wanting to go back. She did have one little cavity that needs fixed but Dr. Kunz said it would only take about 5 minutes and shouldn't be a problem. Yeah!! She is such a big girl!!!



My kids have all been really sick for about a week and a half so the veg out in front of the t.v. quite often. Here is them being really "sick". I think they just like the sympothy!!

Another fun thing Emily got to do was have her hair cut short into a little A-line. I think it is adorable!! She hated having her hair done and this eliminates SOME of the whining! I LOVE it!

We really haven't been up to much lately. Ben keeps really busy as the EQ president and I have come to love Ben more for his sacrifices he makes for other people. He is genuinely concerned for others and enjoys being in their homes and getting to know our ward members. He never complains about going and is more than happy to try and help if needed. I admire him!!

At the beginning of February we found out we were expecting and a week later I had a miscarriage. I didn't realize how bad I really wanted a baby until that happened. It has been sad and hard but I know that I am being watched over and that if we are meant to have another baby it will happen soon enough. I have been somewhat emotional over it but my family and friends are right there beside me to take my hand and pull me forward. THANKS everyone!! My mom came down and we even made these cute wreaths out of old books, I know they sound crazy but they are really cute! This is a picture of the one my mom made for herself. They are fun and Ben likes to call it my "green wreath"---hey it was under $5.00 I'll take it!

Last but not least ny little Cabe man it getting cuter by the second. He talks SO much and is mommy's little helper, friend, snuggle bug and pal!!! Here is a cute little scrapbook page I did of him. I thought he was so cute to be walking around in his diaper and cookie monster slippers, he looked like a tough guy...not really but he was showing his muscles to show he can be tough!!! I love that smile!!!


Anyway I will try to be better about my blog, I hope March is a better month for us that February, I sure it will be! Caleb will be 2 on the St. Patrick's Day...and Emily will be 4 (I can't even believe that) on the 30th. Yeah, for birthdays!!!

Radio Flyer Rocking Horse

Tuesday my Mom came down and spent the day with me---much need adult time. We didn't do much but we achieved something fantastic!!! We found Caleb's dream toy, a Radio Flyer Rocking Horse. I wanted to get him one for Christmas but they were too expensive. after driving around Blackfoot and visiting a few stores we decided to go into a second hand store. There it was, and Caleb ran right to it and tried to hop on. I wasn't sure if this was okay with the clerk but Caleb was determined and hopped right on and wasn't about to get off--he is a little cowboy at heart and rocked as fast as his little legs would go, all while yelling Yahaw, Yahaw!! After a minute or two my Mom walked over and said I think I should buy that for hime for his birthday...it was $50 WAY TOO MUCH for her to spend on one little guy. We finally got Caleb off for a minute and let Emily try it out, she also loved it, it was fun to watch thier faces light up and my Mom said it would be a gift for both of them (theier birthdays are 13 days apart). They were so excited and I think it made my Mom's day to do something so special for her grandkids, Thank you Mom!!

I had to throw this picture in because Caleb's face is priceless....a kiss from sister YUCK!!

Children are precious!

It has been almost a month since I updated my blog. I love the Holidays but they are busy! We had a wonderful Christmas and we were able to spend alot of time with our family and friends! That is all that matters right!!

We spent New Years with our friends and they were a blast! I even found out a few days later that her Grandpa had passed away and she still put the party on and we had alot of fun, what a great friend!!

I will have to do scrapbooks of our holidays adventures later but for now I am sitting here contimplating life I guess you could say. Tonight I went to pick Ben up from the bus and while I was waiting I heard a song by Lee Ann Womack called "There is a God". Oh how true that statement is!!! I think we all tend to forget all the little Tender Mercies that we recieve each day, our minds waiver a little and is overloaded and we simply forget. I want to be more child like!! Last night I asked Ben to give me a blessing and afterward Caleb got upon the chair I was sitting on and in the most precious voice her said "Dad, bless" Ben said, what do you tell a 2 year old? No??? Never, so Ben went over and gave Caleb a father's blessing. Since Caleb is only two, very healthy and happy I had no idea what Ben would bless him for. He never ceases to amaze me, he was inspired and blessed him to do well in nursery and be happy and get along with Emily. It was really sweet!!

This is pretty much how Caleb is most of the time...happy and a joy to be around! I love you little man!

Today I am so grateful I have a worthy priesthood holder as a husband. I am thankful for his willingness to serve me and those around him. Since he has gone back to work I have felt so alone, I know I am not alone but I feel that way! I feel the need to have more friends to do things with, I need an "out". I feel like I want to break out of my "cleaning the house" shell and be adventurous and take on some new tasks. I have de-junked my life and I will stive to be a better mother and friend!

Lately...

I have been really bad about blogging lately! It seems like when I get on my blog I look at all the other blogs and they all make me cry. I think it is the time of year and the many things we have to focus on. And the other things we get to focus on. I love the Christmas cheer in the air that brings a smile to my face and a twinkling in strangers eye's. I love to hear touching stories about kindness and generosity all around. I wish it were like this all the time! My favorite Christmas song it "My Grown-up Christmas wish" it is exactly how I feel. I wish we could all think about and care about others like we do at Christmas time.



On Sunday we went and watched the Christmas Devotional at Ben's grandparent's house and once again it took all I could do to not sit there and cry through the whole thing. I loved the messages that were shared. I was especially proud of my little Emily because she was able to name all of the First Presidency, I guess she does listen to what we say after all.

I have also been listening to The Forgotten Carols and I LOVE LOVE LOVE that play and the music from it!! Again I cried most of yesterday, while listening to it....it stinks being a girl sometimes!




I wish I had a quote from the Christmas devotional because it made me stop and think, but everything that President Monson says makes me re-evaluate and think a little more clearly, I know he is a truly inspired man!! If you didn't see it you can watch it, it is well worth the hour!!


http://www.lds.org/broadcast/christmas/0,6609,4617-1-81-1801,00.html

Leaves are falling all around.....

I thought I would share this cute sign I made for my Mother-in-Law for her birthday. I wanted to give it to her in time to hang up for Chirstmas. It turned out cute! I have one I need to make for myself! I can't wait!!

Halloween was fun! I had a cute little monkey and a beautiful princess to take trick or treating. We got so much candy, and I think Ben and I ate the majority of it. Dang it!!

We have had so many leaves this fall. It has been a ton of work to clean up but I think we have finally finished and only have a couple more loads to bring to the dump. I am so thankful for my neighbor's Peggy and Jerry for getting me some MAJOR big leaf bags, it saved me SOOO much time and so many hours of picking up leaves. It was fun to have my kids help, they enjoyed it and gave me some entertainment while working!!!

When I put Caleb down for his nap today he insisted on taking Emily's baby doll. He fell asleep and I took this picture thinking of what a cuddly, big, tough guy he is....I love this little man!

Oh Beautiful Sunday...

I made these YUMMY cookies on Sunday and I thought I would share the recipe, very well worth the calorie intake!!!


Chocolate Mint Marvels

¾ cup butter

3 T. water

1½ cups brown sugar

2 cups chocolate chips

2 eggs

2½ cups flour

1¼ teaspoon baking soda

1-2 packages of Andes mints

Melt butter, water and brown sugar in saucepan over low heat. Add chocolate chips and stir to melt; put mixture into a bowl and let cool for 10 min. Add eggs, and then mix in flour and baking soda. Chill dough for 1 hour (I did not do this). Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll into balls and place on baking sheet. (The dough will be crumbly, just work it with your hands into a ball). Bake for 7-8 minutes. Remove cookies from oven and place a 1/2 of an Andes mint on each one. As the candy melts, spread it across the top of the cookie with a butter knife.

I LOVE THESE!!

Also on Sunday we couldn't go to church because both of my kids were sick so we decided to go on a drive instead. I am glad we did because I had been really wanting to get out of my house and head to the mountains. We went up through Ririe, then to Swan Valley and over to Victor and Driggs, and came back home through Rexburg. It was so beautiful and the trees were so pretty. I have been watching CARS (The Disney Movie) with my kids lately and I love how Lightning McQueen goes on a drive with Sally and realizes what he has been missing. He says "Look at all those people, they are just driving by and they don't even know what they are missing." That is so true about life! I think most of the time I fly through life and I don't even realize what I am missing. I spend so much time worrying about things that don't matter and I forget about the things that do matter. So I want to make it a goal this week to spend more time with my family and less time cleaning and doing those other dumb things we all get caught up in.

My secret love affair......

So yes it is true I have a secret love affair. . . with FALL!!! I love it, everything about it!! I love the colors of the trees, the smells of pumpkin spice, baked apple pie, grove and clove (Yes, most of these are Scentsy Scents...hee hee). I love the cool crisp air, carving pumpkins, dressing up like silly things, playing Christmas music earlier than most, thinking about Christmas (this is nice to do before it becomes stressful), mostly I love waking up to a nice cool house and warming up with some hot cocoa!! We have been busy lately but have had so much fun!! Here are some highlights of October. . .

---A couple weeks ago I went with my Mom to a pumpkin patch in Shelley. It was fun, they had a little graveyard to walk through and SO many pumpkins to choose from. The kids had alot of fun picking out their pumpkins. Of course they wanted all of them but we ended up with 3 big pumpkins and a few small ones. Thanks Mom, it was a fun!!

----We had so much fun carving our pumpkins tonight! Of course Ben made a scary looking pumpkin and Emily's, and Caleb's were cute (I may have helped a little on this) I think our pumpkins reflect our personalities. . .j/k, Ben is the least scary person I can think of. Caleb wasn't sure of the pumpkin guts at first but after a few minutes all he wanted to do was eat them or play with the knife. This is such a fun tradition, I am glad we took time and did it this year!!

If you look closely in this picture there is even a ghost floating above Ben's head...what a great addition to our little pumpkin family!!! ;)

-----Here are those beautiful Fall colors I love. I have 2 HUGE maple trees in my yard. I love the changing of the colors, but MAN they let down a TON of leaves. We will have fun playing in them tomorrow...

This week we were brave and we moved Caleb to a big boy bed. One day while running on my treadmill I was reading my Parenting Magazine (which I very rarely do, who has time???) and I saw that my crib had been recalled and all I had to do was bring it back to Wal-Mart for a full refund. I was so excited! I got to return and broken, chewed on, climbed on very used crib for a 100% refund of $138.84. So we did and the result has been hard to say the least, but we will learn. Caleb gets out of his bed a dozen of times a night but he will soon learn. . . hopefully!!

We totally need to get him some boy sheets....he gets Emily's old sheets for now. . . poor guy!

Anyway Happy Fall Y'all!!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!!!

And for my Mom I wanted to share one thing I am thankful for, she thought this would be fun to do every week until Thanksgiving, great idea Mom!!

I am thankful for my life!!! I have a great life and a great family! I love my kids and my sweet hubby more than words can express! They make me who I am and without them I am not complete! Each of them have a different way of making me smile!!

Ben---Took care of my kids from Thursday to Saturday so I could go and visit my BFF in Boise. He never complained even though he was sick with the flu most of the time. When I got home he had made me jambalaya and changed the sheets on our bed. He always does little things like that and they mean so much to me!!

Emily---She is so funny and so observant! She can recall so many things that I have said whether it is to her or someone else. She entertains us with her singing daily which is WAY too cute!! She expresses her love often and will grow into a beautiful young lady and probably a heart throb for the little boys, who wouldn't love those eyes of hers???

Caleb---SUCH a Mommies boy and I LOVE it!!! He loves to cuddle with me and give lots of kisses!!! He is so Sweet and so sincere! He is also so expressive (maybe not with words, but with sounds). He can made more animal noises than any kid I have ever seen at his age. Most of them sound so real!! He is friendly and not too much trouble. . . most of the time. He is ALL boy and I love it!!! He will also be a heart throb when he gets older, the cotton top and blue eyes makes him so adorable!!!!

So this week I am thankful to be a Mother and a Wife, there is no greater calling that I could have been given, I may not love every minute of it, but every minute of it makes a mark on who I am and what I am molding my life into!!!!!

How do I love thee??

Tomorrow is our 5th year Anniversary and I saw this on another blog and I loved it....

Dear Ben,

*5 Years

*60 Months

*260 Weeks

*43,830 Hours

*2 Homes

*1 City

*3 Jobs

*3 Cars

*75 (?) Fickle Arguments

*Just as many make-ups

* 2 Wards

*9 Callings

*2 Pregnancies

*2 Beautiful Children

*2 Major Surgeries

*48 (?) Doctor's Visits (Mostly me...sorry babe)

*1 Pet (Oh how I miss him!!)

*210 (?) Sleepless Nights (Gotta love our babies)

*1,825 Good Night Kisses ( I am sure that many and more in between)

*14 Airplane Rides

*10 + States we have visited

*2 Wonderful Grandparent's Funerals

*1 Wedding

* 4 Romantic Getaways

Many Tears

Way More Smiles

Lots and Lots of romantic Nights

Millions of Hugs & Kisses

Countless Memories

Wow!! We have been through so much together and I have loved every last 2,628,000 minute of it!!

Benj, you are so special to me and I am so glad to be your wife!! The day we got married marks such a wonderful day in our lives and I will never forget it! Thank you for taking me to the temple and making those special covenants with me! I love you and I can't wait to share an eternity with you!!! ~Jess

We shall never forget!!

I know that I never will forget September 11, 2001!! I worked for Melaleuca at the time and I remember my Mom telling me what was happening before I left for work. I remember talking to people in New York and hearing the horror in their voices. MANY of them were calling to just talk and they didn't have power in their homes and MANY of them knew people that were affected by this horrific event! I felt so sad and Frank Vandersloot sent EVERYBODY home so they could mourn, have a moment of silence or take a chance to locate all their family members and make sure they were okay. I remember watching the coverage over and over again in disbelief!

Here is a picture of Ben's little brother Max. He served in Iraq for many months and it was so fun when he finally came home. We were able to get special permits to enter the Air Force Base and see as his plane came in. It was so sad and touching to see how many wives/husbands and children let their husbands/wifes, daddies or mommies go to serve our country. To see the happiness is their eyes is something I will NEVER forget. I am so thankful to all of those who serve our country diligently and sacrifice so many things, including their own lives to make our freedoms possible!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

WE LOVE YOU MAX!!!