Mmmmm I do love that fireplace!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Handi Dandi Intercoms
So my in-laws have an intercom system in their house. There's a base one in the upstairs kitchen and there's one in every room (and bathroom) in the house. There's a speak button, a listen button, and thankfully, a privacy button. Which means we can hear them if they push speak and then say something but if they push listen they can't hear us, we have to go push speak and then they can hear us. But if we push listen we can hear them even if they don't push speak.... because theirs is not on privacy... but ours is, so they can't just push listen... get it? Anyways, I am not used to having these handi-dandi intercoms. They really are awesome and nice to have. But, for example, this weekend Kayla, Tyson, and Memrie (Tyson's girlfriend) were home from college for the long weekend. So it's Sunday morning, my one day a week to sleep in and wake up when my body wants to all on it's own, and I'm fast asleep when all of a sudden Mom C's voice comes through the intercom saying breakfast is in 20 minutes (btw, we have a kitchen downstairs but since everyone was home we all ate together). That woke me up so I was a little annoyed (not with Mom C. just with the fact that I was awake haha) So then right away they somehow hooked up an ipod to the base intercom and it played church music through the intercom in every room of the house! Which, again, is great! Way cool! But I was tired and, again, NOT used to such a thing. So in my not-a-moring-person-at-all-frustration, I pretended to shoot the intercom thingy in our room. Jake BUSTED UP LAUGHING at me and made me get out of bed and reenact it (even though the first time I was still asleep and laying down). Here's the reenactment.... It was funnier the first time.
Then we went around the basement trying to turn them all down because the ones outside our room were turned up and blasting as loud as they get and we found a bunch that we didn't even know were there!!! It's just cracking me up. It was like we went into the next bedroom and turned it halfway down then went to the hall and turned that one halfway down then went to the bathroom (hahahahahahahaha!!!) and turned that one halfway down. Then found one in the laundry room and the other hall and the tv room and it was just funny somehow... So you will be happy to know that now they are all identified and turned down a bit so that they don't STARTLE us awake like we're firefighters or something. Phew. Hahaha this is one of those things that I put up here so that one day I can look back and laugh. And, Jake and I think it's funny, so it's just up here for us.
Then we went around the basement trying to turn them all down because the ones outside our room were turned up and blasting as loud as they get and we found a bunch that we didn't even know were there!!! It's just cracking me up. It was like we went into the next bedroom and turned it halfway down then went to the hall and turned that one halfway down then went to the bathroom (hahahahahahahaha!!!) and turned that one halfway down. Then found one in the laundry room and the other hall and the tv room and it was just funny somehow... So you will be happy to know that now they are all identified and turned down a bit so that they don't STARTLE us awake like we're firefighters or something. Phew. Hahaha this is one of those things that I put up here so that one day I can look back and laugh. And, Jake and I think it's funny, so it's just up here for us.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
February 14, 2012
This and this are my posts of Valentine's Day last year. This year Jake went all out again. But I haven't done anything yet. I started his gift but never finished it! I'm too busy and he is always home when I am so I never got a chance. But here's what he did for me.
I got home form work and my parents-in-law made me stay upstairs while Jake finished up downstairs. When I got to go down he had made dinner and had rose petal trails all around the basement leading to different surprises. It was so cute and romantic. Dinner was delicious and then we danced to his favorite song and then I got to go around to all my surprises. During dinner his mom and dad came down to give us a dessert that they made (it was seriously sinfully delicious!). Here's some pics!
That's just a few pictures of a few of the trails and gifts he had for me! It was so fun.
I forgot to mention that earlier in the day, before I had to go to work, we had pink heart shaped pancakes and bacon! My favorite meal ever these days! Some more pictures for ya-
I got home form work and my parents-in-law made me stay upstairs while Jake finished up downstairs. When I got to go down he had made dinner and had rose petal trails all around the basement leading to different surprises. It was so cute and romantic. Dinner was delicious and then we danced to his favorite song and then I got to go around to all my surprises. During dinner his mom and dad came down to give us a dessert that they made (it was seriously sinfully delicious!). Here's some pics!
That's just a few pictures of a few of the trails and gifts he had for me! It was so fun.
I forgot to mention that earlier in the day, before I had to go to work, we had pink heart shaped pancakes and bacon! My favorite meal ever these days! Some more pictures for ya-
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Changes
Life is full of changes. I'm bad at change but I think I'm getting better.
So I think in my last life update post Jake was going to Itech to finish his automotive degree and he was working at Oswald Industries and I was majoring in social work at BYUI. Well, now everything has changed! Jake has dropped out of Itech and he has decided to try to become a seminary teacher. As a back up to that plan, since it's super competitive, he is going to school at BYUI to get a bachelors degree in business management with an emphasis in finances. He lost his job at Oswald Industries which was sad and scary but was actually a really good thing because he was so unhappy there and he is the kind of guy who won't quit something just because he doesn't like it. After working at two different mechanic shops he has decided that is definitely NOT what he wants to do for the rest of his life. Bad atmosphere, bad language, stressful, mean bosses, etc. Now I can admit that I am SO RELIEVED! If he had decided to stick with mechanics I, of course, would have kept supporting him 100%. But I like the idea of a seminary teacher so much better.
So, the sad news is that we sold our contract to our townhome that we have loved SO MUCH and we moved in with Jake's parents. Which I know everyone automatically cringes at the thought of living with parents but it could be way worse! His parents are nice about it and we have the basement to ourselves pretty much. So that's nice. And there's a door that goes in straight to the basement and there's a kitchenette that they have bent over backwards to get all nice and fixed up and new for us. And we love being able to see Lia so much more and Jake is able to make more toys and things for Jake's Toy Chest because his dad's shop is right in the backyard. We just really felt like it was important for us to save the money each month.
He also got a job at a place called On the Spot Cleaning and Restoration. HE LOVES IT. Thank heavens.
As for me and my schooling, I am now in the Home and Family major, emphasis on Marriage and family. I know I get lamer and lamer as I go but this major actually interests me and I'm learning stuff I actually care about and it will help me in every part of my life for the rest of my future. The best part is that all of the credits I have taken so far go towards this so I didn't waste any of my time. I will graduate March or April 2014. I still work at Carlisle Beauty. Life is good. :)
So I think in my last life update post Jake was going to Itech to finish his automotive degree and he was working at Oswald Industries and I was majoring in social work at BYUI. Well, now everything has changed! Jake has dropped out of Itech and he has decided to try to become a seminary teacher. As a back up to that plan, since it's super competitive, he is going to school at BYUI to get a bachelors degree in business management with an emphasis in finances. He lost his job at Oswald Industries which was sad and scary but was actually a really good thing because he was so unhappy there and he is the kind of guy who won't quit something just because he doesn't like it. After working at two different mechanic shops he has decided that is definitely NOT what he wants to do for the rest of his life. Bad atmosphere, bad language, stressful, mean bosses, etc. Now I can admit that I am SO RELIEVED! If he had decided to stick with mechanics I, of course, would have kept supporting him 100%. But I like the idea of a seminary teacher so much better.
So, the sad news is that we sold our contract to our townhome that we have loved SO MUCH and we moved in with Jake's parents. Which I know everyone automatically cringes at the thought of living with parents but it could be way worse! His parents are nice about it and we have the basement to ourselves pretty much. So that's nice. And there's a door that goes in straight to the basement and there's a kitchenette that they have bent over backwards to get all nice and fixed up and new for us. And we love being able to see Lia so much more and Jake is able to make more toys and things for Jake's Toy Chest because his dad's shop is right in the backyard. We just really felt like it was important for us to save the money each month.
He also got a job at a place called On the Spot Cleaning and Restoration. HE LOVES IT. Thank heavens.
As for me and my schooling, I am now in the Home and Family major, emphasis on Marriage and family. I know I get lamer and lamer as I go but this major actually interests me and I'm learning stuff I actually care about and it will help me in every part of my life for the rest of my future. The best part is that all of the credits I have taken so far go towards this so I didn't waste any of my time. I will graduate March or April 2014. I still work at Carlisle Beauty. Life is good. :)
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Little Things
The little things make all the difference in this marriage. Here's the latest:
So simple, but it makes me smile!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Encouraging, Motivating, and Uplifting Quotes
Jake (and I) has been feeling really discouraged about some things lately and it has him (us) really down. I decided to try and help by making him a little book of things with some of my favorite quotes I've found and collected from seminary, classes, pinterest, conference, etc. Since this is our family journal and we look back on it all the time I'm going to put the quotes on here too.
*WARNING: I DON'T HAVE ALL THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID THESE THINGS.... SORRY, I KNOW THAT'S BAD!*
"One of the biggest decisions you'll ever make is whether or not you are going to trust the Lord. If you want a bright future, you have to make the decision right now: do you trust the Lord or not? -Elder Groberg
"If we spend our days waiting for beautiful roses, we could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"Turn your face to the SON, and the shadows fall behind you."
"Don't base your decisions on what you think you can or cannot do." -Brother Gardner
"When you are going through something hard and wonder where God is, remember, a teacher is always quiet during a test."
"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles. It empties today of its strength."
"Sometimes God calms the storm... Sometimes He lets the storm rage on and He calms His child."
"Little things are the most important in life."
"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."
"Let your past make you BETTER, not BITTER."
How to build a lasting relationship:
ME
1. Cut around the M
2. Rotate 180 degrees
"Jake, it takes millions of people to complete the world, but it only takes you to complete mine."
"You never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore."
"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I have ended up where I needed to be."
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says "Im possible" "
"Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come until heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. -Jeffrey R. Holland
"STRENGTH: A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but its persistence."
"Don't marry a man unless you would be proud to have a son exactly like him." Jake, I would be proud to have a son exactly like you.
"Plan your future with PURPOSE. Frame your life with FAITH. -Thomas S. Monson
"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache." -Sister Hinkley
"Sometimes what you want isn't always what you get, but in the end what you get is so much better than what you wanted."
"BElieve in YOUrself... BE YOU."
"God's "no" is not a rejection, it's a redirection."
"One of the best things in life is realizing you're perfectly happy without the things you thought you wanted/needed the most."
"And if they endure to the end they shall be lifted." -Russell M. Nelson
"It's better to look UP." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same thing."
"Whether you think you CAN or think you CAN'T, you're right."
"What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't happened yet."
"One of the biggest decisions you'll ever make is whether or not you are going to trust the Lord. If you want a bright future, you have to make the decision right now: do you trust the Lord or not? -Elder Groberg
"If we spend our days waiting for beautiful roses, we could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"Turn your face to the SON, and the shadows fall behind you."
"Don't base your decisions on what you think you can or cannot do." -Brother Gardner
"When you are going through something hard and wonder where God is, remember, a teacher is always quiet during a test."
"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles. It empties today of its strength."
"Sometimes God calms the storm... Sometimes He lets the storm rage on and He calms His child."
"Little things are the most important in life."
"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."
"Let your past make you BETTER, not BITTER."
How to build a lasting relationship:
ME
1. Cut around the M
2. Rotate 180 degrees
"Jake, it takes millions of people to complete the world, but it only takes you to complete mine."
"You never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore."
"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I have ended up where I needed to be."
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says "Im possible" "
"Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come until heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. -Jeffrey R. Holland
"STRENGTH: A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but its persistence."
"Don't marry a man unless you would be proud to have a son exactly like him." Jake, I would be proud to have a son exactly like you.
"Plan your future with PURPOSE. Frame your life with FAITH. -Thomas S. Monson
"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache." -Sister Hinkley
"Sometimes what you want isn't always what you get, but in the end what you get is so much better than what you wanted."
"BElieve in YOUrself... BE YOU."
"God's "no" is not a rejection, it's a redirection."
"One of the best things in life is realizing you're perfectly happy without the things you thought you wanted/needed the most."
"And if they endure to the end they shall be lifted." -Russell M. Nelson
"It's better to look UP." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same thing."
"Whether you think you CAN or think you CAN'T, you're right."
"What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't happened yet."
We are going to keep adding to this ring whenever one of us hears a quote we love.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Jake's Toy Chest
Some of you have heard that Jake is starting a little side business. He loves wood working and always makes little puzzles and brain teasers and games and things so we decided he should sell some! I had never seen how a puzzle is made before so I was fascinated when I helped Jake make the puzzle that we gave my parents for Christmas! It's actually a pretty long process. I took pictures and thought I'd put them up here.
First he prints the picture and uses something similar to modge podge to glue the picture to the wood. Then he uses a jigsaw to cut around the puzzle. Then he takes the big middle piece and starts cutting the little puzzle pieces. Here are a few pictures:
Then he sands (by hand because the pieces are small and curvy) each piece and the border. Depending on how many pieces he cut he needs to shrink the border to fit tighter around the puzzle. Then he glues and staples the border to a backing. Then he put a finish on all the wood. Let me tell ya, after putting linseed oil on 130 tiny pieces of a puzzle, my hand was KILLING ME!
If you go to facebook.com/jakestoychest you can see more pictures of the things he makes and sells. Once we get going there will be more things. We'll also be setting up a website here soon.
Another thing, we decided that I could make sleeves for the toys he makes. You know how now ipods come with sleeves and e-readers come with sleeves and sleeves are just more special? (haha) so my momsy showed me a few different ways that I could sew a sleeve for each puzzle, number game, brainteaser, etc that we sell. They are so cute and I am so excited! For now we have different size plastic bags and we printed out Jake's Toy Chest onto card stock. Until I have a sewing machine/time to make a bunch of sleeves we will just make them for the puzzles. Also, eventually we are going to make a little stamp that says Jake's Toy Chest on it and we'll wood burn it into each item we sell. I am SO EXCITED it's going to be so super cute.
Here's what our plastic bags look like:
Here are a few of the sleeves:
First he prints the picture and uses something similar to modge podge to glue the picture to the wood. Then he uses a jigsaw to cut around the puzzle. Then he takes the big middle piece and starts cutting the little puzzle pieces. Here are a few pictures:
Then he sands (by hand because the pieces are small and curvy) each piece and the border. Depending on how many pieces he cut he needs to shrink the border to fit tighter around the puzzle. Then he glues and staples the border to a backing. Then he put a finish on all the wood. Let me tell ya, after putting linseed oil on 130 tiny pieces of a puzzle, my hand was KILLING ME!
If you go to facebook.com/jakestoychest you can see more pictures of the things he makes and sells. Once we get going there will be more things. We'll also be setting up a website here soon.
Another thing, we decided that I could make sleeves for the toys he makes. You know how now ipods come with sleeves and e-readers come with sleeves and sleeves are just more special? (haha) so my momsy showed me a few different ways that I could sew a sleeve for each puzzle, number game, brainteaser, etc that we sell. They are so cute and I am so excited! For now we have different size plastic bags and we printed out Jake's Toy Chest onto card stock. Until I have a sewing machine/time to make a bunch of sleeves we will just make them for the puzzles. Also, eventually we are going to make a little stamp that says Jake's Toy Chest on it and we'll wood burn it into each item we sell. I am SO EXCITED it's going to be so super cute.
Here's what our plastic bags look like:
Here are a few of the sleeves:
Here are some puzzles Jake has made (in these pictures they aren't in their holder border thing they are just the pieces):
Here are a few other things he has made:
I will keep y'all updated as we start making more toys/games/puzzles and as we make a website and everything. :)
Here are a few other things he has made:
I will keep y'all updated as we start making more toys/games/puzzles and as we make a website and everything. :)
Monday, January 9, 2012
Quickie Lia Update!
She is so cute and so big and so good! She has been completely neglected ever since Jake got his tonsils out and yesterday I just went to see if she would even let me go near her and not only did she do that but she walked right up to me! And let me pick up all four feet and all those other things that I've listed on here a hundred times. She did great. I really love that horse. :)
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
New Year Resolutions Time!
Alright I'm determined to do better this year!
Here's what I've got:
1. Wake up early enough to read a chapter from the BOM and to exercise before I shower and get ready for school.
2. Set out what I'm going to wear the next day each night so my mornings go faster.
3. Spend less money every month on dates and groceries.
4. Continue going to the temple every week with Jake and reading the BOM every night with him.
5. Get good grades.
6. Pay off the Honda and my ring this year.
7. Learn how to sew.
8. Get Jake's Toy Chest up and running.
9. Get Lia riding well with the other horses without a fight by July/August.
10. My # 10 was to go do initiatory at the temple every Tuesday or Thursday between school and work but after going to my five classes and seeing what they require and then considering I work 30 hours a week and that I drive seriously like 8 hours a week (not that I added all my commuting up...), and that I do require a certain amount of sleep to function and that I want to exercise in the morning to be more healthy so I can do everything without being a mean grumpy wife.... I think #10 is probably only going to happen once in a while. :)
Here we go!
Here's what I've got:
1. Wake up early enough to read a chapter from the BOM and to exercise before I shower and get ready for school.
2. Set out what I'm going to wear the next day each night so my mornings go faster.
3. Spend less money every month on dates and groceries.
4. Continue going to the temple every week with Jake and reading the BOM every night with him.
5. Get good grades.
6. Pay off the Honda and my ring this year.
7. Learn how to sew.
8. Get Jake's Toy Chest up and running.
9. Get Lia riding well with the other horses without a fight by July/August.
10. My # 10 was to go do initiatory at the temple every Tuesday or Thursday between school and work but after going to my five classes and seeing what they require and then considering I work 30 hours a week and that I drive seriously like 8 hours a week (not that I added all my commuting up...), and that I do require a certain amount of sleep to function and that I want to exercise in the morning to be more healthy so I can do everything without being a mean grumpy wife.... I think #10 is probably only going to happen once in a while. :)
Here we go!
Monday, January 2, 2012
2012 Already!
The last few years have been such big ones! It started with my family moving to Louisiana in August of 2009, then I graduated in June of 201o, then I met Jake in September of 2010, then Jake met my family in December 2010, then Jake and I got engaged in February 2011, then we were married in June 2011, then we moved from Rexburg to Idaho Falls in July 2011, then Jake switched jobs from Outfitters to Oswald Industries in October 2011, then we finished 2011 with a big ol' 2 week vacation to Utah and Louisiana! Who knows what 2012 has in store for us?! It's exciting and scary all at once!
Okay, I did not take a single picture of our weekend at Bear Lake. So here's my lame-o post with no new pics. We celebrated New Years Eve at Bear Lake with the Cromwells. They have a cabin in the mountains surrounding the lake. It's gorgeous. Already I have so many memories from Bear Lake. The lake cabin, the mountain cabin, snowmobiling, boating, four wheeling, etc. I can't wait for our kids to make memories there! So we got there Friday night and I was so sick. My ears hurt my head hurt I was coughing and sniffing and I had a headache. Jake played games with his sibs all night and I felt really lame cause I stayed in our room and played solitaire and read my Kinzie and slept. Friday was also Harrison's birthday, FYI. He's the super sweet nephew that Jake and I just adore. Saturday I still felt lousy but I tried to suck it up. I played kinect or whatever that newest game is with Jake for a little bit and then the rest of the day I pretty much just read. Perfect vacation if you ask me, I love to just sit and read! But I think Jake was bored for me because he kept trying to find other things for me to do haha. We played bananagrams and card games a lot. Jake rocked the kinect dancing game ALL DAY LONG. Some day we will have to invest in that cause he loves it and I think it's the only exercise he gets ;). On Sunday we
Okay, I did not take a single picture of our weekend at Bear Lake. So here's my lame-o post with no new pics. We celebrated New Years Eve at Bear Lake with the Cromwells. They have a cabin in the mountains surrounding the lake. It's gorgeous. Already I have so many memories from Bear Lake. The lake cabin, the mountain cabin, snowmobiling, boating, four wheeling, etc. I can't wait for our kids to make memories there! So we got there Friday night and I was so sick. My ears hurt my head hurt I was coughing and sniffing and I had a headache. Jake played games with his sibs all night and I felt really lame cause I stayed in our room and played solitaire and read my Kinzie and slept. Friday was also Harrison's birthday, FYI. He's the super sweet nephew that Jake and I just adore. Saturday I still felt lousy but I tried to suck it up. I played kinect or whatever that newest game is with Jake for a little bit and then the rest of the day I pretty much just read. Perfect vacation if you ask me, I love to just sit and read! But I think Jake was bored for me because he kept trying to find other things for me to do haha. We played bananagrams and card games a lot. Jake rocked the kinect dancing game ALL DAY LONG. Some day we will have to invest in that cause he loves it and I think it's the only exercise he gets ;). On Sunday we
slept in and then went to church at 12. After church we hung out and ate good food. Jake and I made pumpkin cookies. I read a lot more (I CAN'T believe how long The Host is it has taken me forever to read!). After dark we all went down to the lake cabin and Adam did a firework show that was A.MAZ.ING. Seriously probably the best I have ever seen. After a yummy dinner Jake and I went HOME. We've been gone a long time! It was so nice to get away for two weeks but it's so good to shower in your own shower and sleep in your own bed!
Now I just don't know if we're ready for our new schedule of both of us working ourawful jobs and both of us going to school. (I know every newly wed couple does that but sheesh! It's hard! Especially when you live 40 minutes away from your school and it's snowy and icy outside.)
Now I just don't know if we're ready for our new schedule of both of us working our
Here are some of my favorite things from 2011:
1. Obviously, getting engaged at the ice castles in Midway, UT in February. (They aren't making them this year! Boo!)
3. Moving OUT of Rexburg to Idaho Falls in July. We LOVE LOVE LOVE our townhouse, ward, calling, how close we are to family, jobs, everything!
4. Buying ourbaby horse Lia! We so love and spoil her!
4. Buying our
5. Hearing that we get to move up with our primary class!! We just love those kids!
I've said it before, if I knew their parents I would take a picture but since I don't, they probably wouldn't appreciate their kid's random primary teacher taking a group picture and blogging about it. ;)
I've said it before, if I knew their parents I would take a picture but since I don't, they probably wouldn't appreciate their kid's random primary teacher taking a group picture and blogging about it. ;)
Happy New Year!!!