Ward Breakfast

Last weekend our ward had a breakfast at the park.  They served eggs, french toast, pancakes, sausage, bacon, and orange juice.  It was super yummy!  Indiana had a blast playing with the other kids at the park.  At the end of the breakfast we had a surprise visit from Santa Clause!  Indiana is afraid of him and usually won’t go anywhere near him, but she saw that he was handing out candy and oranges to the kids and she wanted one.  I told her if she wanted the candy and orange she had to ask Santa for one.  So, we stood in line and when it was our turn she made me hold her, but she did ask him for a treat and she even said please and thank you!  It was a fun little morning.  Porter slept through the last half of it since it was his nap time, but he got to enjoy some yummy bacon!

 

Changes

Kids grow up too fast.  I wish they would grow and develop slower, so I can have more time to enjoy each stage they go through!  Last week Porter learned to say, “Bye bye” and even opens and closes his hands when he says it.  This week he learned to blow kisses!  Last night we were all in the living room enjoying some quality family time and Porter kept giving my leg open mouth kisses.  Then he accidentally breathed out one time when he did it and gave me a raspberry.  Well, he thought that was the most amazing thing ever!  He kept doing it over and over and we were all laughing so hard!  I need to keep the battery to our video camera charged at all times for moments like these.  He is growing into a little toddler.  He’s not my baby anymore.  He can also climb our stairs as fast as lightning!  Seriously, he is practically running on all fours up to our second floor, and he always laughs the whole way up.  If we are downstairs and I put the baby gate up on the bottom step, he will crawl over (hoping to be able to climb them) and see the gate and put his head down on the floor and cry in misery.  He hates that gate. 

Indiana is growing too.  She isn’t even 2 1/2 yet and is in 3t & 4t clothes, depending on the brand.  I am hardly ever having to change her diaper these past few days because she is potty training.  She is doing so well at it now!  Yesterday we were leaving the house and were already out the door when she turned around and said, “I go potty!”  My first thought was, “Just go in your diaper!”  But, I unlocked the door and we went back inside so she could go.  I was really proud of her.  I used to have to ask her every hour if she needed to go and now she comes up to me.  She still isn’t ready for panties yet.  She has not gone #2 on the toilet ever, so we need to still work on that.  And if she is busy and distracted she will also still go #1 in her diaper.  Baby steps, but we will get there!

Thanksgiving Week

For Thanksgiving we went to Albuquerque, NM to spend it with Devin’s family.  We got there kind of late Wednesday night and woke up on Thursday to snow!  All of the kids were so excited!  They couldn’t wait to go play in it, so they all went out in their pajamas. 

                                     Indy, Londyn, and Boston.                                    Caught her just as she was yawning.

                                                                                                                                   It was pretty early in the morning!

Yup, Jake & Noel are barefoot!  They are so crazy!  It was freezing outside but the kids didn’t care.

On Saturday we went to the Albq LDS Temple (where Devin & I were married) to take a few photos.  Indiana was NOT cooperating.  Oh well.

 

On Saturday we also went to the Albq Zoo.  All I have to say is WOW!  That zoo may not be as big as the Phoenix zoo, but it is so much better!  I haven’t been to the Albq Zoo since I was in junior high.  We saw bald eagles, lions, tigers, polar bears, huge crocodiles, baby monkeys, cheetahs, hyenas, hippos, jaguars, mountain lions, koala bears, the most venomous snakes in the world, and so much more!  Unfortunately my camera battery died not even halfway through our visit at the zoo.  So, here are the pictures we did get!

                

Look at the turtle’s head in the picture below.  How weird and scary is that?!

   

 

This zoo was seriously amazing.  If you are ever in Albuquerque make sure to stop by and see it!  Only $7 a person, can’t beat that!

New Hair-do

 

Before:

After:

Sorry if this annoys you, but I don’t care!!!

Also, sorry for the rude title of this post!  I know some of you are probably tired of hearing about my savings whether I tell you in person, on the phone or announce it on Facebook.  I just got back from grocery shopping and am just too excited about how much money I saved tonight that I can’t not share it with you!  I spent $30.49 out of my pocket and saved $112.47!!!  Don’t believe me?  It’s true!  I am LOVING couponing and am slowly getting the hang of it.  Here is a list of things I got for this price, and remember it is all brand-name stuff, not generic brand!

5 Red Baron Pizzas, 4 Campbell’s Turkey Gravy, 20 Campbell’s Cream of Chicken Soup, 2 Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup, 10 Swanson Chicken Broth, 2 Kraft Stove-Top Turkey Stuffing, 1 Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce, 8 Green Giant Valley Fresh Vegetable Steamers Bags, 2 Sara Lee Pumpkin Pies, 1 Cool-Whip, 1 can of Similac Formula

(sorry the picture is blurry, it was taken with the camera on my phone)