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!!!

“Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing”

I guess I am lucky to say that I have been busy and it hasn't been just sitting around doing nothing. We have been busy gardening, canning celebrating birthdays and all sorts of other little things that life throws our way. Last Thursday Emily started swimming lessons. We decided to put her in private swim lessons because she is kinda shy and I thought one on one would be an easier way for her to approach the water. When we got there she was terrified of her teacher (even though he is in our ward and I had introduced them previously). She hid behind my legs, cried a little and wanted to go home. Logan was very patient and finally convinced her to come and give him a chance. I think they had a great time together.

Another item to add to the excitement of our lives is that Ben is attending night classes once again this semester. He will be gone Tuesdays and Thursday nights. I really miss him tonight and guess I didn't realize how much I love seeing him walk through the door every night and how nice it is to cuddle up to him when I go to sleep. It will be an adjustment but there is an upside to him not being here...I don't have to cook those 2 nights a week. How nice is that???

I also started babysitting my friend Sammi's kids. They are so cute and is has been so much fun to have them around. I am definitely more tired at the end of the day but I feel like I am accomplishing something and believe it or not my house is cleaner at the end of the day too...hmmmmm. Sammi and Wade have 3 little girls Kenadee, Mylee and Taylee.

Mylee and Caleb are best buds! Where there is one there is the other. I also find them together playing, sharing snacks, getting into mischief and sometimes fighting over sippy cups. Today Mylee hit Caleb with her shoe and Caleb got sympathy from Mom and the next thing I knew he had got that same shoe and was hitting himself in the head looking for 1 more ounce of sympathy. He is a charmer like his Daddy!!

Then there is Kenadee and Emily. They can be the best of friends one minute and fight like sisters the next. Typical girls. Kenadee is alot of help and starts school tomorrow so she will only be here in the afternoon. They have had fun playing their little hearts out!


Last there is 6 month old Taylee. She is so much fun and never stops smiling!! She is so tiny and so much fun to play with. It is fun seeing how my kids would do around a little baby. Caleb always wants to kiss her and Emily always wants to hold her. When we have another baby I am sure I will have gobbs of help! ;0)

Anyway I am off to bed (by myself...tear!)

The Biggest Loser

Me, Ben and some of Ben's family have decided to do our own version of "The Biggest Loser". We started yesterday but it was my sister's birthday and me and Ben totally blew it, so we are making up for lost time today. So to those of you participating....it is on (like Donkey Kong as one particular person would say :0) )!!! I just got done exercing and I am getting ready for lunch....hmmmmm choices, choices! If anyone has any dieting tips I would love to hear them, I need them! And to those of you who would try and tell me to eat ice cream and even volunteer to bring me ice cream, I am great at revenge!!!

Mom and Ambie

Mom, this is for you!!!! Just want you to know that we all love you and think you are the best Mom and Grandma in the whole world! You are so talented and so much fun to be around!! I love your honesty and your integrity!! You are a great example to all of us and I hope my kids have as many good memories of me as I do of you. I tell you often that I LOVED my childhood. I have so many fun memories of being little, of camping and of fishing and playing games together!! Thank you for being you, thanks for being one of my best friends and mentors!!!

A Mother's Love Blooms Forever!

AND it is Amber's big 34th today!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMBIE!!! Thanks for being you!! You already know that I love you and I am so glad that you are one of my best friends!! You are inspirational, funny, dorky, dumb and oh so much fun!!!!

Family Pictures

My friend Jennifer took our family pictures last Wednesday and they turned out so cute!!! We went to a grain field in Pingree, luckily I thought ahead and took an allergy pill! :) They kids just loved Jennifer and her sweet Mom, they were being really chessy and cute the whole time! THANK YOU Jenn (and Mom) you guys were awesome and SOOOO fun to pose for!!

Jenn does tons of family pics, check out her site, she is so talented! http://jjhphotography.blogspot.com/

We will Miss Grandma Mecham!!

On Saturday Ben's Great Grandma Mecham passed away after being sick for a couple of weeks. She was ready to see her sweetheart and her 4 boys that have passed away before her. We are so sad to not be able to be in her presence and talk to her and enjoy her sweet spirit, but I am sure her reunion in heaven was wonderful!!! Grandma Mecham was such a wonderful lady and gave us so much hope and strength! She was so strong and immovable in all that she did. she inspires us all and makes us want to be better!! I am so glad I knew her and glad my kids had the chance to know her!! She will be greatly missed!