Daddy doll

After a long night of pizza makin, and cookie eating she went to bed pretty well. This is a pretty rare occurrence in my home. Usually the night consists of constant, "Go back to your room" "There is nothing to be scared of" "Fine you can sleep in my bed as long as you go to bed" "Go to bed Genna or you can't go to school tomorrow" You know stuff like that. I gave her, her daddy doll that I made for the kids at super saturday. She misses her daddy so much. Well she just held on to her daddy doll and fell right to sleep. I couldn't miss the opportunity of this picture. She's just so peaceful. She always talks about when her dad comes home, and she prays about him. Saying she loves her daddy and misses him, and she wants him to come home and be safe. My husband is in the process of recording a message for each of the kids on a voice box so I can put it in there. I really hope she'll just fall asleep pushing that listening to his voice.

Pizza Makin

I like to buy the premade pizza crust from the store, it's so easy and fun for the kids to make their own toppings. They are pretty good too. We had a fun night making pizza for dinner, then I cheated on the cookies, and bought the premade precut stuff. It was great. So we had pizza and sugar cookies, uhmm I think it was a school night too. Oh well... My kids could eat cheese all day, just to let you know.

2 years and counting

December 16th, 2006.

I can't believe we've been married for two years now. I just wish he was here to celebrate with me. :) It seems like only yesterday we met, but it's been four years now that we've been together. I guess we would of been married longer by now, but separation from the good ol' army is at it again. It's been a stressful, happy two years. We've had a new little boy to add to our bunch, and now a new girl soon. We're just movin right along.

We were married at a friends house, I went to church with them, and they graciously offered their home for anything, so I asked, and they said yes. It was a small wedding, but it was nice. The funniest part of the wedding was probably during the ceremony right when I was about to walk down the stairs the door bell rang. Everyone got a good laugh. I think the most shocking part was when he did not tell me he'd be using his teeth to take my garter belt off. He just flung my dress up and stuck his whole head under there. The funny thing was the missionaries were standing right there watching, I'm sure they turned their heads. LOL. It was great when he threw it, it just landed on the ground, and all the guys just kinda stared at it. Then Peter was brave enough to pick it, he still hasn't asked my friend to marry him...

I love this picture, Genna was our little flower girl, and since my cousin decided he didn't like the fact that I was getting married on his birthday he did not want to be the ring bearer. So Genna was our little flower girl/ring bearer. We sang happy birthday to my cousin later, that made things a little better.

Everyone together.

Matt was soooo nervous, when he was trying to put the ring on my finger he was like shaking, and his hands were so sweaty. With all those people watching, who wouldn't be. My bishop married us, he was great, totally supported our marriage, and that really helps so much. Just can't wait to go to the temple.

The happy couple. How do you rotate pictures?

The cake was so much fun, we both got each other pretty good. Everything was very beautiful. The cake had strawberry stuff in it, it was good. The honey moon was good too.

Playing Cinderella

Genna found my old veil and slip to my wedding dress, which she thought was the dress its self. But it works for a little girl wanting to play wedding. She kept wanting me to pretend I was dad, and walk her down the aile. When I told her it was time to go with her husband now and go on a honey moon, she said she wanted dad to come with her. LOL. Even made her knew husband sit in the back. Oh how I'll laugh when things change. She talks now how she never wants me to leave her, even when she's all grown up and is a teacher. She wants me home when she comes home everyday. I tell her she won't want me around when she's older, but she gets real emotional about it. She wants me around for ever and ever she says...

December 16th, 2006.

Maybe this is where she got the idea. I don't know if she remembers our wedding, but she always talks about when mom and dad got married. I always try to stress that college is first, then the wedding, then a baby. I hope it just stays in that head of hers. When she was playing wedding, she pretended to have a baby the night before the wedding. Lol. I told she couldn't do that.

I finished Twilight!

I finished the last book of the twilight series. Thanks so much to my friend for letting me borrow them. I think it's the fastest I've read four books in such a short time. I finally feel like I can stop ignoring my kids and house and move on with my life. It's time to get ready for Christmas, and r/r! I loved the books, probably the I have to say the best I've read. I could not stop reading them, the author does a spectacular job writing it so you never know what is going to happen, you just have to keep reading, you cannot stop!!

He's just so cool

Home made jerky

So since one good thing the guys down range really like is jerky, which I refuse to buy because of the price my good friend came over and made my husband some jerky and gave me the recipe. It is sooo good. I am so glad she gave me this alternative, yay!

2 lbs of deer meat, or beef

brine:

2/3 cup wosterchire sauce
2/3 cup soy sauce
2 tsp. ground black pepper
2 tsp. onion pepper
1 tsp. liquid smoke
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tbsp. honey

Place meet in freezer 1 hour(makes it easier to cut) against the grain into thin strips. Mix up the brine. Put in a plastic bag and add meat. Put in fridge to marinate 3-6 hours. remove meat and drain on cooling rack. once meat in dry place on oven rack, still on the cooling rack on a pan of course. cook on lowest setting overnight with oven door wedged open. She just a bundle of foil. enjoy, store in zip lock bag. YUM

Flour Power

Last night when we were making cookies for dad Jake really wanted me to hold him so he could see what was going on. Instead I put him in the high chair right next to us. He still didn't like that. So to keep the peace during our cookie making I plopped some flour on his tray, of course he attacked it, eating it. LOL Genna tried it and of course the normal reaction came from her of spitting it out in disgust. But Jake kept eating it while he played with it. It was pretty funny watching it turn all doughy in his mouth and watching him smack his lips like it was magic food. It transforms in your mouth! The mess of flour every where was worth it. They both had so much fun.

Our New Pet

This buggy thing, I'm not sure what you call it, has officially adopted our family. He's been crawling around on a lawn chair that is sitting in the carport for about a week now. He's always in a different place when we go outside, but he's always there. I guess we should think of a name. My daughter keeps asking me for a dog. She trys to compromise with me too. I keep telling her no, and she keeps trying. I think this bug is all I want for now. He's very low maintence. I have two kids, and one on the way, I think I have my hands full enough without a pet to get after. Ugh, I am so antipets lately, when our cat finally ran away a couple of months ago I was sooo reliefed. I don't want anything crawling on my furniture or pooping in my yard. I like this new green friend we have.

1 year check up

I took my son to the Doc today. Turns out his actually lost some weight, and his head hasn't grown at all. I knew it was small, but I guess I was in denial about how small... So we're going to see a neurologist just to make sure everything is alright. She said we might as well do it now, or every doctor he sees in his life will bring it up. Poor guy. Then I had to take him today to get his blood drawn for the first time, to check on the weight issue. They poked him twice, he didn't do too bad the first poke she got it right away then it rolled. So, this other lady came and in my opinion was 'fishing' a little too much. I could see the vain was not around the needle. But she got it, he started screaming by then. Then the poor little guy dropped his cookie he was holding by this point. I felt so bad for him, I whimpered myself when we went looking for the vain with that needle. But what can a mother do? Shots and this in the same day. Happy Birthday Jake. :(

"I'll have...cocktail sauce, thanks mom!"

So a couple of days ago, while I was finishing up our gourmet meal of corndogs, and frys in the kitchen, Genna so big sisterly gave Jake a slab of ketchup on his plate. Not knowing what to actually do with it, he just started eating it! And he could not get enough. He kept screaming every time it was gone, he hardly ate anything but ketchup! I don't know whether to laugh or be so frustrated. I feel like I have to hide the sauce now! I made seasoned potatoes with some fish from the freezer. I thought this would taste nice with some cocktail sauce. So I got the jar out and set it on the table. Well as soon as he realized it was sitting on the table, a jar of RED sauce he streched towards it screaming for some of that lovely red sauce to be on his plate. So once again, sauce for dinner! Don't worry I know, I will teach him not to scream for things, but he's only almost 13 months, I can give him a break right?

SSG!!

I am so proud of my husband, he was pinned the beginning of the month for his E6. He deserved it so much, and yes it has been LONG over due. I am so proud of him and everything he does for his family, and his country.

Learning about tithing

So I have another confession about my tithing. My husband and I recently comitted to paying our tithing when we bought my car last Nov. We agreed to start paying it. And we have been, but I guess not a full tith. I knew we didn't but I just didn't want to admit it. So I called my good ol' grandma and confirmed it with her, yes you pay tithing on the gross amount, not just what comes into your bank account. So last month I wrote our first full amount check, it was hard on both of us but we knew it was something we had to do. We both want to go to the temple, and it's the only way we can. It's like a lesson we had in RS, If you try to do everything at once you'll get overwhelmed and quit, which believe me I've tried it doesn't work. So we are taking baby steps to go to the temple, I know it's in our near future, I really cannot wait. So since we're paying our tithing I'm tending to be much more thifty. I'm trying to buy everything second hand that I can. I'm paying more attention to prices of things I buy at the store and such. So we can still live the same life style just in a different way. It's a great feeling when I bought something really nice and calculate how much I've saved by buying it at the thrift store.

1 by 1

LOL, so my daughter came home with worksheets and a coloring book about calling 911. So since we don't have a home phone yet I decided to teach her how to call 911 on my cell. If you haven't noticed I tend to be a very paranoid person that worrys about what my mom would call silly things. So we spent an evening going over how to call 911 several times and telling them my mom is hurt so something of the sort. We also went over reasons to call 911. It was kinda fun faking it like I could wake up, and was like what would you do if mom wouldn't wake up? It was great making a game out of it. Also, a great reason I plan on getting a home phone soon is you can call 911 on your house phone and they'll know exactly where you are. They can't do that on a cell phone. So I taught her also to tell them what street she lives on and in what city. It's cute how she says 911. She says,"1by1."

BYE BYE CABLE...

So, I admit our family has had a serious tv addiction. Before Genna was in school she would be watching noggin all day almost, and my husband and I watched tv all evening. And I watched my Dr. Phil/Who wants to be a millionaire etc. all afternoon. Yikes! It's crazy now that I even think of it. So I decided when we moved into the new house I would only ordered basic cable, can't do much with 20 channels right? RIGHT! There was nothing on ever! So we never watched it and it was great. I got more done around the house, I have more energy, I spend more quality time with my kids, and I don't seem so glued to the couch. It was like once I sat down I couldn't get up! It was a horrible feeling. So since we never watched the basic cable, I went today and turned in the cable box and canceled all tv we have! I feel so accomplished, and a big step for the sake of our family. But of course I did subscribe to netflix so we can watch an occasional movie, and that seem to satisfy us just fine. But it was pretty funny when I told my hubby we only have basic cable now. He said, "oh ok, that's fine as long as we still get the history channel." LOL no sorry hun, can't wait till he hears about what I did today!

Due date change

So when I had my u/s they were saying the baby was measuring 12 days smaller then my due date. So they said they have to change it. So instead of March 14, it's March 26. Which is ok, I feel more comfortable about my size now, I knew I was kinda small for how many weeks I thought I was. I'm going back for another u/s in December. Since the baby was smaller then expected they couldn't see the heart too well, so I'm excited to see more of this wonderful baby. So I'm hoping my husband can come home for his r/r around the 20th of March we will see how it turns out. Right now he's scheduled to come home in Jan. which doesn't work at all considering I'll be out of town part of that month. So he's working on getting it changed. I really cannot wait to see him. So I was doing the math with my sis-in-law. And we figured out the date of conception most likely happened the night before he left. So, we were trying to get pregnant the wrong time, and if we weren't even trying it still would of happened. I find it funny how things work out. I feel like this baby is meant to be so much. I am so grateful for my kids. I was so scared I wasn't going to be able to have kids after they found a cyst on my ovary and had to remove it. They told me I could get another one on the other side, so I really thought it was a matter of time. But this time, I am definitely waiting until I'm at least 26 to have #4.

Another girl

So, I hope you can all figure out what we are having. I had my u/s last month. I had the tech pick the pic of the baby's bottom in an pre-stamped/addressed envelope to Afghanistan. I knew I'd have to wait a while to hear what we are having but it was special, and worth it. It was so great to be able to find out together and have the first reaction together. One of the hardest things about deployment for me is not reacting together on things. It seem like I find something out or something happens by the time I get to tell him I have it figured out, or I'm like whatever about the situation. Then I feel so much more apart from him, and I don't want to. So it was great. I totally thought we were having another boy, and he wanted a girl. Yep he was right, and it was so great to hear how happy he was on the phone. I guess I was in a little shock at first about a girl. I worry so much. I worry about her getting hurt by some stupid boy in the future, about not teaching her the tools she needs to make through this harsh world, so much more then a boy. I'm not sure why. Also, I'm worried about Genna. Right now everyone and their mom talk about how Jake looks just like his dad. Which is so true, I'm always saying it as well. And Genna looks exactly like her mom, which is so true. She says it herself too about both kids. I'm worried about things people say effecting Genna in a negative way. I know it won't matter to me who my kids look like, I just worry about her. I am getting more excited everyday to have another wonderful daughter.

Movin on Up

So we recently have moved into a new house in the same neighborhood. I love it so much. I prayed so much that we would get a house that met all our needs. And we totally have!! I am so happy. I got a single floored home, I was constantly worrying about how I'd have Jake 17 months old with a bran new baby coming. Him trying to fall down the stairs and I can hardly catch my breath! Then after our new arrival? What a nightmare that would of been. The house is big, 4 bedrooms, right now the spare room is a storage/playroom and I love it. I have a large master bedroom with a hudge closet, wonderful kitchen, very large laundry room! Yes, I love it. And I only have two full bathroom! Only two toilets to clean! It's going to be great. Not to mention the outside is wonderful, someone left me an outstanding garden in the front, we also have a big backyard. Our carport is located in the back of the house, so we use the back door by the kitchen for our entry. It's been great. I am so grateful for this house, I feel like I can make it more of a home, my kids seem to be settling in quite well. We are getting settled the only thing left to do is hang pics up on the wall, and unpack the 'clutter' boxes. We'll see if that ever happens though. Yay!

Transformers in Afghanistan.

Transformers, transformers... I don't know their song but I know they transform. I like this pic of Matt, he's so cute when he squints. He said this was the transformers symbol spray painted on a vehicle, he said the cartoon guys. I've never seen the cartoon, or paid much attention when my brother probably used to watch it. I just like the pic of my afghan man. Love you man, kick some booty for us all back here in A-mer-i-ca.

Nosey Glasses? What?

We bought these glasses for Genna's birthday pinata, the kids really like them, it was fun trying them on. Thank you Amy for being our lovely photographer. :)

Pregnant...again

So, I'm 10 weeks pregnant in this pic, and I'm already starting to show. I had been suspicious of being knocked up ever since the night it actually happened. I told my husband the risk of ovulation occurring that night. I guess it was a risk he was willing to take. But I guess you can say I'm guilty as well. He then deployed two weeks after conception. I was able to confirm his doings about two weeks after he up and left. I waited and waited for him to call to let him know what he had done. But after a week of anxious waiting no call came from the middle east. So I mailed him a pregnancy test with a little cute scrap booking bib around it. And a note saying,"Look what you've done you naughty boy." Of course he called the very next day, which I did not tell him, I figure he could wait until he received it in the mail. But after calling the next day I decided to go ahead and tell him the big news he deserved to know since he played a big part in it. We are very excited to have a March/R&R baby. And of course like all men are he was very boastful about it, very proud of himself. LOL. I love you babe.

Boys and their cars...

He's such a boy, I caught him playing in Genna's room pushing the car around. This toy car used to be Genna's but I have a feeling I'll get more use out of it this kid around. :) Love you Jakey.

Bed time video

So this night Genna was supposed to be going to bed like all little girls do around 8 pm. Instead she found my camera and decided to take a bunch of pics of herself and videos. I thought it was so funny that night I laid down to go to bed I grabbed my camera to enjoy some final family pics before getting some zzz's in. I laughed, and showed them to her the next day, it's great. I have a bunch of pics of her smiling, pouting, and sticking out her tongue. Too funny, I love her.

My blog creation for you.

July 3rd. My baby took off once again to the middle east. This time Afghanistan to help the Afghans instead of the Iraq's. This will be his 3rd tour to the middle east. I am so proud of him and what he does. He was kinda excited to deploy this time around. Maybe it's cuz we've been married for over a year now. He knows what he got himself into, and is ready for a break. LOL. No really I think he was tired of the baby sitting the 18 year old soldiers, now he can just do his job and let Rear-D worry about the family issues, and all the whining wives. LOL JK, ok sorry Matt I know you don't like the sarcasm but I have to do it, it's just the way I am.

I wanted to create this blog for him and our families and friends so they know what's going on in crazy hot Texas. I know Matt will miss the kids so much while he is gone, we are hoping so much for only a 12 month deployment, there has been rumors, we'll find out soon. He deserves it after what happen his last deployment of being extended 4 months 3 days before coming home. I love you Matt. We miss you so much and cannot wait for your safe return. .

We'll miss you dad.