Friday, December 4, 2009

X-mas shopping!

I am very proud and happy to announce that I am 98.7% done Christmas shopping!

"Thank You very much!"
And boy-oh-boy, did I rock the world of shopping this year! I shopped sales and clearance stores only and saved more money than I spent.



I also had a major "first" this Christmas shopping season......you ready for this???.......I bought something on-line. I have to admit I don't enjoy this! There is something hard about giving out my credit card info, being charged and then not immediately recieving my purchase. I hate waiting 7 to 10 business days to recieve my goods in the mail, but, I couldn't pass up my great deal. I also like dealing directly with people, like a sales clerk. That way if something goes screwy, I have someone I can directly blame. Like Sally the cashier who charged me the original price instead of the sale price. On-line screw ups frighten me, afterall, you can't blame a computer!

So a big thank you to all of my favorite stores for saving me loads of mula!!! TJ MAXX, Ross, Red Balloon's 20% off sale, and especially and surprisingly Big Lots!

Here are a few examples of the money I saved:

Didj Gaming system. Normal Price $ 89.99 Big Lots Price $ 29.99 savings $60.00

Didj Custom Learning Game Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. Normal Price $ 29.99 Leapster Leapster on- line Clearance Price $9.99 Savings $ 20.00

Didj Custom learning Games Double Pack. Star Wars : The Clone Wars & Indiana Jones. Normal Price $29.99 each. Leapster on-line sale price $15.00 for both. savings $ 45.00

Struxx Size It Up Construction System. Normal Price $64.99 TJ MAXX Sale Price $29.99 savings $ 35.00

Could have spent this much $ 245.00

But Only spent this much $ 85.00

Savings $160.00

Wow, that puts a smile on my face.Santa would be so proud. Now......what to get the husband???? Any suggestions? What are you guys getting your husbands this year? Do share.


-Jami

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Life is good







For some odd reason I am feeling very emotional. I cried all morning reading about things, thinking about things, listening to things.... Not bad tears, or sad tears (the kind that give you runny boogers) but happy, thankful tears. (for lack of better words to describe)




I took a trip this last month with some friends, and it was very fun and much anticipated (you can check out the album of photos on FB) I needed it. You know as well as I do that being a parent is the best and craziest rollercoaster ride of all. Sometimes up and sometimes down, but after all is said and done and the ride is over for the day, you are always so glad you went on that ride. It leaves you feeling excited, nervous, happy, aware, and don't forget the butterflies floating in the tummy!




I look forward to laying my boys down to sleep for a moments peace to myself, as much as I look forward to feeling their soft little lips squished against my cheek in the morning to wake me up. Kids are the best....and for many reasons.




I know they are growing and the days where I get to hold them in my arms and pinch their bare bottoms as they get out of the tub are numbered. It makes me sad to think how fast time had flown.




i remember the twins coming home with me from the hospital and feeling extremely overwhelmed....I would think to myself, "hang in there for one month, it will get better. They will be bigger, sleeping better through the night etc...just hang on." a month would come and with it, life would get easier, but also harder. So then again I would think. "oh when they are 6 months it will be easier. They will sit up, and surely be sleeping through the night, not so fragile." etc....




The other night, me and James played outside with the kids. We built sandcastles, played tickle monster, and tag. I was so happy. I sat on my back stairs and watched my little family. I love them. Life is good. Not perfect in the world's eyes, but perfect in mine.




My boys are at a good age in life, or maybe I've just learned to relax and roll with the punches, either way, I love where they are at. Chase is a sponge for knowledge and is reminding me of myself as a child every day. He is very inquisitive just as I was. Always asking me impossible questions that I don't know how to answer, such as. "What's the biggest thing in the entire world?", "Will dinosaurs come back to life when Jesus comes again?" things like this that catch me off-guard but always make me smile. he is so tender-hearted, just like his daddy.




The twins are still my babies. They just barely have their baby chub still that I fear will be gone in the next few months. I love chubby cheeks (both on their face and bottoms), pudgy little fingers, sweet little dimples. They are just about to pass through that line of "toddler" to "big kid" and it makes me sad. They still say funny words in their cute little munchkin voices and I will miss that dearly.




For the first time in a long time, I am not wanting to fast forward to the easier times, I want to
PAUSE.
Pause life the way it is,
make my kids stop growing.
Keep them my babies.
And let those butterflies in my tummy linger as long as they will allow.
-Jami

Darling Thanksgiving idea from my super crafty pal, Char!

Check out this link to learn more : http://crapivemade.blogspot.com/2009/11/thankful-tree.html

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Our Newest Family Member


So yesterday was a day I didn't think I would ever live to see....





We adopted a dog!








I grew up with a dog almost my entire life. James however didn't. So when we got married it was a known fact that we would be getting one, afterall a family isn't complete without some kind of family pet, right???





Well the first 6 months of marriage we were in an apartment, so that wasn't going to happen. Then we "house-sat" James' brothers house for him another 6 months, not happening then either. Then,.....we lived at James' parents house for 2 years while they served a mission. So you see, we were never able to adopt/buy a dog to my dismay.


We finally built our own house and now had a place to call our own.....yay.....we can get a dog!!!


Oh, wait, just kidding......................We have a brand new baby to take care of, maybe when he's a little older we will get one. I don't know about any of you but a new baby and the reality and responsibility that comes with it was just enough to put me over the edge. A dog was deffinately not in the near future for us.


Chase grew, our yard was put in and a fence! WHAT!!?!?!?!.....a fenced yard you say? HooRaY!!!! NOW we can get a dog!.

It would be perfect, Chase could have a buddy to play with, I would have a new walking partner to help shed my baby flubber, and James has a new hunting buddy. This is the perfect time, right??? NOPE!!!!!










(Enter twins)















I became pregnant with twins. So now not only would I have a 2 year old, a husband working and going to school both full time, and me working part-time, but also 2 BABIES to take care of.



Will we ever get a darn dog???, guess not. Life is too crazy......





At least it was.








Don't get me wrong. Life is still, (always has been, and I'm pretty sure, always will be) CrAzY!!! But my boys are growing up and time is moving on, and i don't think there is ever a perfect time to add to the family. (Not just pets but kids too) and so....you just bite the bullet. We did and we are so glad that we did. We adopted, BRUISER from the West Jordan Animal Shelter yesterday after having visited him 3 good times to make sure he was the right one and shopping around every Dog Shelter in the valley.



I would recommend this if you are planning on adding a pet to your fam. Have you been to a shelter lately??? It is enough to break your pea picking little heart. All those pups you see being sold on the lawns of Wal-Mart and specialty pet shops are cute, but you know they are going to get sold. Save a dog's life and rescue one from the shelter. Pups are cute but you have to potty train, train them not to chew, not to bark, not to jump up on people etc... Too much work for me. Besides, older dogs don't give you any crap (i mean this both hypathetically and literally) My dog, Bruiser, is house broken, potty-trained, and we haven't ever heard him bark.








(Really,.... we haven't heard him bark, and it almost is freakin' me out a bit. )










I am excited for the fun My kids will have with their new buddy, Just like the fun I had when I was their age with my little dog, Buffy. I LoVeD having a dog! He made me feel so happy and loved, even if i was mean to him sometimes, or pulled his tail, os stepped on him, or accidently locked him in a closet, or lost him etc. He still loved my guts!!





Dogs are the best because they love you unconditionally, no matter what. You could throw a brick at a dog and it would still be waiting at the door for you with it's tail a waggin' to greet and kiss you when you get home.










They are the best!










with that said....I would like to introduce you all to, our new family dog...........................
BRUISER.
















Best Dog Ever!



-Jami




Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Summer Slacker



I'm not gonna lie...I have deffinately been a huge slacker when it comes to the blogging world...but in my defense I have been CrAzY busy!!! So here are some few highlights of what I have been up to.






February-May :The youth of my ward participated in
The Temple Celebration. It was a wonderful, busy, crazy, time-consuming
experience, that paid off in the end. it was so amazing to watch it all
come together on the night of the performance. They did an amazing job!





June: Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House
with the youth.






One of my favorite high-lights of summer...GiRl'S CaMp!!!
I had such a wonderful time with the girls and leaders. It was a Blast!!!!













What great friends I get to work with. Love them all
















We took our boys on a few hiking trips. This one is

Dog Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon. They did
awesome! It was a 5.6 mile hike and they didn't even break a sweat!






My cute family






My cute boys (all 4 of them!)








Chase playing in the creek





More to come...i'm not gonna lie...I hate downloading pics....

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

I need some suggestions

Me and James are trying to fill our i tunes with some off the hook music. We have racked our brains and have thought of many good songs but know that there are many to be remembered or even discovered. So as a favor to me would you mind please suggesting 5 of your fave songs along with the performer so we can add them to our collection. I don't care who, wee have everything from Frnak Sinatra to kenny Loggins....Tupac to Aerosmith... we are pretty easily pleased.


No screamo, or 4 letter worded songs please. Thanks for your time

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Is it just me or is summer CrAzY?!?!?!? Even still,.......
I LOVE IT!!!!!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

back to Short

So after straightening my hair and actually seeing how damaged and fried my blond locks were, I made a decision to hack it all off. (I don't think James is very happy about it,) but I don't have any regrets.


pictures to come.


-Jami