COURAGE

My brother-in-law, Micheal, ships out TODAY for Iraq. I don't even care to use the term "brother-in-law", he is very much a brother to me but I don't want anyone thinking Jordan or Matthew are going off to war. Now that's something to laugh about, Matthew, not Jordan.

He will be gone for 1 year and will be terribly missed by all of us. I wanted to put up a post about him before he left, not that he will see this, he is probably already gone.

Micheal is a man of courage, honor and many other attributes that make him the incredible man that he is. I thought the above scripture on his photo well described him. Josh actually told me that he was thinking about that scripture and it reminded him of Micheal and he gave me the great idea to put it on his picture with the flag.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13
That is very well put and describes a very piercing feeling when you read it and think about the great sacrifices that the men and women of our armed forces make for each and every one of us!

This is a sign I have in my house. I thought it was very appropriate for this occasion. It truly is the land of the free, BECAUSE of the brave. It brings tears to my eyes to read it and emphasize why we are free! It is because of those who are willing to lay their lives down for others and for the great sacrifices they and their families make.

I have always felt that I am a patriotic person, my dad is a great example of that. It went up immensely when I married Josh, who has such an appreciation for America. He said that after living in Brazil for 2 years, he can't help but know and feel more grateful for the FREEDOM we enjoy here. He was also in Brazil while 9/11 happened and hearing him describe those feelings of when he found out give you chills. He is a great example of someone who loves this country. Last but know least, it went up yet another level when Micheal joined the Army. Things hit home a lot closer and I'm not even his wife. I can't imagine the pride and patriotism that is in Amy's heart. I feel protective when I hear the media talk about the war and soldiers and just listening to how ungrateful the media is. Why is it that only the bad is shown on TV? It's war, there will always be bad but there is so much good too! I love Micheal and I'm so proud of him and what he's doing.

GOD BLESS!

Check Up & Harleys

Today I went in for my monthly check up. My appointment was originally supposed to be tomorrow, on Friday but my doctor's office called a few weeks ago and needed to change because he wasn't going to be in on that date anymore.

Everything looks great, I actually gained 2 pounds in the last 5 weeks, which is awesome for me since I have been trying to put weight back on since I threw up so much in the beginning. I still don't weigh what I did before I got pregnant with this one. I lost A LOT of weight in the first 12 weeks. 2 pounds is great and I'll take whatever I can. We find out on October 15th what we are having!

While I was in there, we got talking to my doctor about him switching days. He is so hilarious and all of you who know me, know I LOVE my OBGYN so much that is why I still go to Logan even though I live in Layton. Josh loves him just as much as I do and we have been through a lot together and he knows all my problems and he just takes extremely good care of us. Ok, on a totally different side note, he is the sweetest man ever, we saw him in the Temple on night and after we were talking to him and his wife and we walked out together and after he got his wife in the car and everything, he came running after us, shouting our names. When he caught up to us, he slapped some cash into Josh's hand and said, "I wanted to pay for you guys to go out to dinner tonight for coming to the Temple" and before you could rebuttal or anything, he was gone. I know a lot of people think I'm crazy but when I'm having a baby, I don't want just anyone, I want someone that both Josh and I trust my life with, after all, that is what you're doing. There are many other stories I could write about him that makes the drive 100% worth it to me but we'd be here ALL night.

Ok, back to my original story. We got talking about him switching days and he said that his dad decided to do a weekend with his boys. They are renting Harley Davidsons and riding up to Yellowstone. Oh we laughed so hard when he told us that. I asked him if he'd ever been on a motorcycle before and he said, "Nope, this should be fun, I hope I don't hit any buffalo while I'm up there." It was just more than I could bare, I laughed so hard. I can't even imagine him doing a road trip on a Harley. I seriously COULD NOT STOP LAUGHING. This probably isn't as funny to any of you but I had to document it!

Date Night

My sweet friend, Maren, called me on Friday (after lots of confusion between the men, big shock) and told me she wanted to watch Chloee so that we could go out for a date. She is such a sweetie, she is always thinking of others and is constantly serving those around her. Seeing as how I couldn't remember the last time we went out on a date without Chloee, I knew we needed it, so I took her up on it.

We decided to go out to eat. Of course we went to Chili's. It's Josh's favorite place. It was nice to sit, eat and actually be able to have a conversation without having to pay 90% of our attention to Chloee. You know, making sure she isn't throwing food at the other tables, screaming at the top of her lungs, staring at people as they eat, throwing a fit about how she doesn't want to eat or wants whatever we are eating. It was a nice enjoyable evening. We are trying to be better about budgeting and everything so we just did dinner. After we went back to Lance and Maren's and watched a movie on their wall. Lance had borrowed the projector from work. It was pretty cool. I tried to put Chloee to sleep on Maren's bed and fell asleep and evidently Josh fell asleep about 20 minutes into the movie but don't worry, Lance and Maren stayed awake for the whole thing. They were probably like, "Josh is asleep here on the couch and Kimberlee and Chloee are asleep on our bed and here we are watching a movie, get them out of our house!".

We had fun. Thank you Maren, for a very much overdue and greatly appreciated night out!

Stacie's Visit

Stacie came up to visit last Saturday night. Josh's step-sister, Jennifer, was getting married in Ogden. Stacie and her boys came, we went together and then she stayed the night. Here is a picture with their step-brother, Kevin.

Kevin took this picture, I guess I'll cut him some slack, it was pitch black outside and you couldn't see anything in the view finder. We got there late and Jennifer was already out of her wedding dress, oh well, it was fun to see everyone. I didn't get a picture with Dana in it. :(

This was probably the HAPPIEST I have ever seen Chloee at church. She was ecstatic that Chandler and Rhyder came with us. You should have seen her face as we were walking in the church, just skipping, beaming from ear to ear. I know that is sad but I seriously have NEVER seen her that happy to be at church!

The kids walked home with Josh from church. At first, Chandler didn't want to go to his Primary Class but did go for the last half and was all excited about it. Chandler and Chloee played light sabers all day and they were "both" Darth Vader and anytime one would get the other with their light saber, they would just put a "band aide" on it and then they were fine! It was hilarious to listen to their conversations. Also, Rhyder popped his first tooth through in Sacrament Meeting, what a good little boy!

I just love this hat. She's doing much better with nursery lately!

Thanks for coming Stacie, we had so much fun. Oh and who can forget when Chandler locked ALL the sets of keys in your car! We seriously tried everything for hours, asked neighbors that were cops, called the cops, they wouldn't come unless their was a kid in the car. We even attempted to ask my drug-dealer neighbors but they wouldn't even answer the door. It was a nightmare. I called a locksmith place and they said it would be $65 plus labor, that's well over $100. I finally called this guy in my bishopric that I knew was a mechanic (that I don't know very well, we were DESPERATE) and asked him what he though we could or should do. Being the sweet man he is, he came over, brought his tools and after about half an hour, got it unlocked! Whewh!!! It was funny once it was all over.

Chloee's First Haircut

I was so worried that this wouldn't go well... at all. I talked to Stacie about it on the phone and she said we could put a cool kid cape on her and she could have a sucker after. Josh's sister, Stacie, has a salon in her home so we went and had Josh's cut first so that Chloee could see how much "fun" it was. All of you that know her, know of her curls. They were just getting too wispy on the ends and around her face, it was getting wispy too. I have been so hesitant to cut her hair because, come on, she's 2 and I have never cut it and it's not like she has a ton of it.

She turned out to be absolutely amazing. She didn't cry once and didn't move when Stacie was cutting it or anything. I was in total shock. She even let Stacie wash her hair in the sink, it was the cutest thing ever.

SO BRAVE!

I just loved seeing her little feet hanging out under the cape while she was sitting on the booster in the chair.

She has an awful calic like me, in the exact same spot. Her hair naturally swoops off to one side so I had her trim it up, but not into bangs.

When Stacie asked her to put her head down, she did and stayed like that. I was SHOCKED the entire time and so proud. I know that sounds stupid but I'm pregnant, I'm allowed to cry over stupid things. Or at least what others might think are stupid...

She loves the blow dryer!

After, Stacie put some Curl Life Spritz or something in her hair to boost the curls and it looked so darn cute. What's my problem? Even writing this post makes me cry. I was just so proud of her for being so brave and good.

The cut really helps her curls to look fuller and it looks so much healthier. The curls actually look even more curly, if that makes any sense. I'm glad it looks so good, I wanted to get it cut before I do her pics this weekend. Thanks Stacie for being so great and patient with her. I KNOW it never would have gone as good as it did if someone else had done it! I'm sad I forgot to keep a little "lock" of it for her baby book...

The State Fair

We went to the state fair last Thursday. It was the first day opening so it is only $2 for adults and kids are free! How cool is that? Thanks for inviting us Stacie! The above picture is an ACTUAL sign that was all around the tiger cage. I don't know why that was so funny to me but I couldn't stop laughing about it!

Chloee and Chandler had so much fun together. It was cute to see Chloee chase Chandler around and want to do everything the same as him. Ok, it wasn't so fun when she wanted the same sword he got. They were so cute together.

Rhyder just hung out in his stroller, other than the above picture when he tried to escape. He actually wiggled his way all the way out of the stroller. Crazy kid!


THE FFA FARM!!

This was the cutest thing I have ever seen. One of the FFA groups put this together and it's free. The kids get to go work on a farm and do chores. Here they are putting on their aprons and getting their baskets to go be hard at work.

In this one they put corn in a bag and got it ready for the next little station

In the next one, they fed the cow their corn and then got to "milk" the cow and picked up a milk container on their way out. This picture kind of stinks but I still had to put it on.

They picked out a "seed", which was a coin shaped wood chip with a picture of a vegetable on it. Chloee picked a carrot.

She dug a hole and planted it under the "carrots" sign.

On the other side was where they got to get the vegetables they had "planted".

They "bailed" hay here and put it in the back of these cute little John Deere tricycles which they rode around a circle and went onto the next station.

They got some wool out of a bag and got to brush the sheep that was on display.

Picked up an egg.

Yes, future FFA kids right here!

This is where they put away all of the items in their basket. Hard work for a little kid, right?

She got to take her dollar and pick one thing at the "General Store". She picked a package of cookies. The kids loved it!

Here she is after she got her treat. She is standing next to a measuring table that says how many horse hooves tall you are!

We had so much fun. We bought some pizza from The Pie and had a caramel apple. No fair is complete without a caramel apple. We also went and saw the animals. Seriously, there was this one pig that was HUGE, it could have passed as a horse, I swear! The bunnies were cute but that was short lived. You have got to love the smell of the animals, especially when you're pregnant.

The Weed Man

Yes, that's right, The Weed Man. Today I went and visited The Weed Man. I was telling my friend Jackie that I don't know what to put on my walls now that I've painted and she said, "Let's take a visit to The Weed Man". It was so much fun. It is this little place in Ogden on the side of the road. This man makes these wreaths, stars, etc., out of weeds and it is SO cheap. You all know how much these kinds of things cost at craft stores. He has so much it isn't even funny! Seriously we went in barns and they are all over outside of the buildings. Pretty much anything you want, he has.

I'm glad I learned about his new found keepsake. When any of you come visit, we have to make a trip to The Weed Man, it will be worth your while!

I made Jackie get in this picture, she reluctantly did!

This is the one I bought to go over my kitchen table. It looks so great there, it really adds a lot to the wall. You can't really tell the color tones here, the lighting wasn't great but I love it!

I bought this one to go in the downstairs bathroom. I can't believe how much one thing on the wall lights up the entire room.

There you have it. Go see The Weed Man instead of Tai Pan, Michael's, Roberts, or whoever it is that is ripping you off for fabulous home decor.