Random post, for no reason... Just bragging about the stud I'm married too. He takes my breath away. Love my B!
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Christmas Cookies
Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I knew the time would go fast. Lately I've noticed just how fast it seems to go. The past year was full of everything you can imagine and some things I never want to imagine again, like a snake in my washing machine.
I planned to take around neighbor gifts this year for Christmas, just like last year. I even got some of the cookies baked. We live in an awesome neighborhood and one of the perks is all the treats during the holidays! My neighbors can bake and cook. It is awesome! I however, did not get to share any of my baking talents with them this year. My two days a week working at the gym turned into three, then four and now I find myself there 40 hours a week. This is by no means a bad thing at all. But working full time, running a home (more like attempting to run a home), family and the fact that I do require a minimum of 8 hours of sleep each night, left little room for me to have time to bake cookies. Along with the battle that ensues between saran wrap and myself everytime I use it and then delivering the goods. I had a major triumph in deciding to skip the neighbor treats! This was huge for me. Really. Just ask B.
I was feeling bad about it. Not too bad. Don't worry, I don't beat myself up over many things. But I did want to show my neighbors I loved them. That's when I realized just how blessed I am. I have so many neighbors and friends that I love and who love me and my family that there just wasn't time to bake that many stinking cookies! I had been focused on the cookies, which should come as no surprise. I love cookies. But I am so grateful for that moment where time stopped ever so briefly and the Lord showed me just how blessed I am. That I am truly surrounded by good people. So good that a cookie at Christmas isn't what holds our relationships together.
So neighbors, MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR! I am grwoing quite attached to Plain City and it is because of the people. I want my neighbors, our friends, to know that we love them. That they bless our life continually and Brandon and I could not ask for a better place to live. We are spoiled. Thank you for all you do. For being a part of making some great memories in 2013. We had some huge blessings during the holidays that were much needed and we know that our neighbors were a part of many of those acts of kindness. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
I planned to take around neighbor gifts this year for Christmas, just like last year. I even got some of the cookies baked. We live in an awesome neighborhood and one of the perks is all the treats during the holidays! My neighbors can bake and cook. It is awesome! I however, did not get to share any of my baking talents with them this year. My two days a week working at the gym turned into three, then four and now I find myself there 40 hours a week. This is by no means a bad thing at all. But working full time, running a home (more like attempting to run a home), family and the fact that I do require a minimum of 8 hours of sleep each night, left little room for me to have time to bake cookies. Along with the battle that ensues between saran wrap and myself everytime I use it and then delivering the goods. I had a major triumph in deciding to skip the neighbor treats! This was huge for me. Really. Just ask B.
I was feeling bad about it. Not too bad. Don't worry, I don't beat myself up over many things. But I did want to show my neighbors I loved them. That's when I realized just how blessed I am. I have so many neighbors and friends that I love and who love me and my family that there just wasn't time to bake that many stinking cookies! I had been focused on the cookies, which should come as no surprise. I love cookies. But I am so grateful for that moment where time stopped ever so briefly and the Lord showed me just how blessed I am. That I am truly surrounded by good people. So good that a cookie at Christmas isn't what holds our relationships together.
So neighbors, MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR! I am grwoing quite attached to Plain City and it is because of the people. I want my neighbors, our friends, to know that we love them. That they bless our life continually and Brandon and I could not ask for a better place to live. We are spoiled. Thank you for all you do. For being a part of making some great memories in 2013. We had some huge blessings during the holidays that were much needed and we know that our neighbors were a part of many of those acts of kindness. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
The Cup Song
Elizabeth has learned "The Cup Song". B and I have been finding random, empty, cups all over the house lately. She goes around singing the song and doing the actions with a cup. Cutest thing ever, minus the fact that it has created more dishes for me to do!!
This last Friday night we went out to dinner with a friend and her two girls. CeCe decided to do it with Liz...
This last Friday night we went out to dinner with a friend and her two girls. CeCe decided to do it with Liz...
Duck Season
Brandon has started hunting. He grew up hunting as a kid and teenager but has not been hunting since he returned home from his mission which was a LONG LONG LONG time ago. Man, he's old! In Plain City it is pretty easy to go hunting close to your home. Brandon had permission from a neighbor to go dove hunting on his property which is maybe a mile down the road. And so it began!!
Brandon and Luke would get up really early and head out to hunt doves. The girls went with him a couple of times and I even went once. Now he is on to the duck hunt. He and Luke went last night and they did not come home empty handed!! Both had a huge smile on their face when I went to pick them up. I had Luke tell me in a video about it. He tells it better than I do.
Brandon and Luke would get up really early and head out to hunt doves. The girls went with him a couple of times and I even went once. Now he is on to the duck hunt. He and Luke went last night and they did not come home empty handed!! Both had a huge smile on their face when I went to pick them up. I had Luke tell me in a video about it. He tells it better than I do.
I know that B has loved every second of taking Luke with him. I wish I could articulate what it's like to see them walking down a dirt road at dusk with their hunting gear and Charlie in tow. It made my heart smile.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Cats
I've never liked cats. I would watch my Papa shoot them if they came into his yard. Really. I watched him fling one over the fence by its tail. We were taught that cats were bad. So I have never liked them. Refused to have them. Until Jerry came along about two years ago. I couldn't say no when Brandon and the kids asked to keep him. And he was cute. I kinda liked him.
About a year later Brandon thought it was a good idea to stop at a home with a sign that said FREE KITTENS. With the kids. They brought one home. Looking back, I should have made them take her back. But I didn't. How was I supposed to know she would get knocked up and go into labor on my bed, right next to me??????
Brandon woke me when it started. I flipped out and yelled at him to run get a box because she was NOT giving birth on my bed. I've tried to blame what happened next on Charlie barking but the truth is, I startled Kotex (her real name is Ella) and she bolted from the bed. Her first kitten fell out of her and on the floor by the vent.
UGH.
Great.
Can kittens get a TBI (traumatic brain injury)?????
I grabbed a towel, scooped up the kitten and then mom and put them in the box. I've never seen a cat give birth. Obviously. And it was pretty cool to watch Kotex immediately start taking care of her baby. I figured she was just having one, which confused me because I thought they had huge litters. After reading on google and finding out there can be anywhere from ten to sixty minutes between births I went back to bed. We woke up to a total of four kittens.
Kotex has tried twice to move the under our bed. On my side. Seriously?? Why my side??
Those of you who have known me for a long time, I am sure are finding this hilarious. Those in my family are probably finding this shocking and against everything we've been taught.
So, we have four kittens. Three still need a home when the time comes that we can take them away from their mom. Anyone want one??? Please???
Jill vs. the Snake
A couple of weeks ago, I came home from a friends wedding to find a snake in Luke's aquarium that normally houses small frogs. Awesome.
Luke proceeded to tell me how he caught it. Carried it home and downstairs to put in his red bin. Which he couldn't find at first and then once he had, he had to empty it out. Which is when I clarify that he brought the snake in the house and was holding on to it for that entire time????? At that time I was so relieved that he didn't drop it and lose it in the house. I asked him why he didn't just put it in the tank to begin with and he said, "Well, I wanted to show Dad. I didn't think it was a good idea to wake him from his nap holding a snake over him."
Good thinking.
We told Luke he could keep the snake in the tank through the weekend. On Saturday night, the snake made a break for it. I don't like snakes or any other creepy crawly type animals. Contained, they are fine. I don't want to look at them but they don't bother me. A snake on the loose, in my house, is a whole different story.
In tears, I made Brandon and Luke tear a part the basement to find it. I know Brandon thought I was nuts. How were they going to find this little garter snake?? In that moment, I did not care. They HAD to find it. Needless to say, it wasn't found. I was pretty close to taking up a couple of friends on their offers of a couch or trampoline to sleep on instead of sleeping in my house. But, I stayed home and slept in my house.
In my bed.
With a snake loose.
I made Brandon shut our bedroom door and put towels along the bottom. Brandon almost lost some toes that night. He found it funny to wiggle his toes at me and make little noises that scared me half to death. It's rare tat I don't find that man funny. That night, he was not funny.
He thought he was. I contemplated amputating his toes.
A few days go by, roughly a week, and I am finally coming to the point where I figure the snake has died or found it's way out. So life went on. Til I did some laundry...
I was switching over a load of laundry and was reaching into my washing machine when I realized I did not have clothes in my hand but something else. That was moving. The snake. It was alive. I drop the snake, scream for Brandon and immediately drop to the floor hugging my knees and start crying. Which I feel was the appropriate response given the circumstances. Brandon and Luke took it outside and I don't know if they let it go or killed it. I don't care. I still shiver and get chills just thinking about grabbing it. I'm fairly sure that Brandon had to bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.
I gave the tank to a friend for her sons birthday. I think she is nuts to allow a creepy crawly thing in her house. Look what happened to me!! Luke can still catch all the critters he wants. They will just have to stay outside.
Last summer I had to put a limit on the number of frogs he and his friend could catch and put in the tank. It was 4. I explained that there was "no more room at the Inn". Well, this summer, the Inn is shutting down.
Luke proceeded to tell me how he caught it. Carried it home and downstairs to put in his red bin. Which he couldn't find at first and then once he had, he had to empty it out. Which is when I clarify that he brought the snake in the house and was holding on to it for that entire time????? At that time I was so relieved that he didn't drop it and lose it in the house. I asked him why he didn't just put it in the tank to begin with and he said, "Well, I wanted to show Dad. I didn't think it was a good idea to wake him from his nap holding a snake over him."
Good thinking.
We told Luke he could keep the snake in the tank through the weekend. On Saturday night, the snake made a break for it. I don't like snakes or any other creepy crawly type animals. Contained, they are fine. I don't want to look at them but they don't bother me. A snake on the loose, in my house, is a whole different story.
In tears, I made Brandon and Luke tear a part the basement to find it. I know Brandon thought I was nuts. How were they going to find this little garter snake?? In that moment, I did not care. They HAD to find it. Needless to say, it wasn't found. I was pretty close to taking up a couple of friends on their offers of a couch or trampoline to sleep on instead of sleeping in my house. But, I stayed home and slept in my house.
In my bed.
With a snake loose.
I made Brandon shut our bedroom door and put towels along the bottom. Brandon almost lost some toes that night. He found it funny to wiggle his toes at me and make little noises that scared me half to death. It's rare tat I don't find that man funny. That night, he was not funny.
He thought he was. I contemplated amputating his toes.
A few days go by, roughly a week, and I am finally coming to the point where I figure the snake has died or found it's way out. So life went on. Til I did some laundry...
I was switching over a load of laundry and was reaching into my washing machine when I realized I did not have clothes in my hand but something else. That was moving. The snake. It was alive. I drop the snake, scream for Brandon and immediately drop to the floor hugging my knees and start crying. Which I feel was the appropriate response given the circumstances. Brandon and Luke took it outside and I don't know if they let it go or killed it. I don't care. I still shiver and get chills just thinking about grabbing it. I'm fairly sure that Brandon had to bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.
I gave the tank to a friend for her sons birthday. I think she is nuts to allow a creepy crawly thing in her house. Look what happened to me!! Luke can still catch all the critters he wants. They will just have to stay outside.
Last summer I had to put a limit on the number of frogs he and his friend could catch and put in the tank. It was 4. I explained that there was "no more room at the Inn". Well, this summer, the Inn is shutting down.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
November to Now...
SIDE NOTE: I wrote this over a month ago. Ha!
Thanksgiving came and went. Along with Christmas, New Years, Valentines and all the other days in between. I thought it was time I put up an update... We spent Thanksgiving with my family this year. The kids were with us and we had dinner at my mom's. It was a lot of fun and a relaxing day. So relaxing that I didn't take any pictures!! Brandon and I have another beautiful niece! Emma Shinobu Tingey, born December 18, 2012 at 5:13 a.m. 8 lbs 1 oz, 20.5 inches. Brian and Andrea had their second child, well, technically Andrea had the baby. Emma was born in December and she is such a beautiful baby! Lincoln is so happy to be a big brother. We are excited for her blessing that is coming up. This year, the kids were with us for the last half of Christmas day. Brandon and I spent Christmas Eve with his family. It was such a nice night together as family. We are truly blessed.
We had Christmas morning with just the two of us, it was fun to open our presents and spend the morning together in our pajamma's. We were REALLY excited for the kids to come over. We were beyond blessed this Christmas and are so grateful for all of our friends and family. The Lord continues to bless our family, we are humbled and grateful.
New Years Eve this year was spent with our good friends the Wright's. We had enough food to feed an army, made lava lamps and set fire to a dummy in the front yard!! Really, the Wrights taught us about Ano viejo. A custom in South America, you write down all the things from that year (2012) that you want to leave behind you as you move into the the new year (2013). You then put them together and burn what you are leaving behind you. We each took a piece of paper and wrote down all the things from 2012 that we wanted to let go of and leave behind in 2012 as we began 2013. There was no reading of our papers. I noticed that the room grew quite quiet with the exception of a few cracks from Brandon and Cody. I thought the kids would struggle or not have much to write. Turns out, we all had things we wanted to leave behind. Mine ranged from silly to serious. I have no clue what anyone else wrote. That was one of the cool things about it. We then went out front and put them into the dummy the Wright's had brought. Cody and Brandon moved our 2012 dummy onto the lawn and to make sure it would burn, they poured gasoline on it. Personally, I think those two just wanted to make sure it was a big fire. As 2012 started to burn, there was a surprise, sparklers! Brandon and Cody had to put a little flare to our 2012. As the sparklers died and the dummy continued to burn we stood in silence and watched. After a few moments, Kari suggested we sing a song. Several of us asked what song? And in true Wright/Sandall fashion, Emma suggested that we sing "If You're Happy and You Know It". So, we watched 2012 finish burning and sang our hearts out. Actions and all. We are so grateful for the Wright family and their friendship. Silly one moment and serious the next. LOVE YOU GUYS!!
Thanksgiving came and went. Along with Christmas, New Years, Valentines and all the other days in between. I thought it was time I put up an update... We spent Thanksgiving with my family this year. The kids were with us and we had dinner at my mom's. It was a lot of fun and a relaxing day. So relaxing that I didn't take any pictures!! Brandon and I have another beautiful niece! Emma Shinobu Tingey, born December 18, 2012 at 5:13 a.m. 8 lbs 1 oz, 20.5 inches. Brian and Andrea had their second child, well, technically Andrea had the baby. Emma was born in December and she is such a beautiful baby! Lincoln is so happy to be a big brother. We are excited for her blessing that is coming up. This year, the kids were with us for the last half of Christmas day. Brandon and I spent Christmas Eve with his family. It was such a nice night together as family. We are truly blessed.
We had Christmas morning with just the two of us, it was fun to open our presents and spend the morning together in our pajamma's. We were REALLY excited for the kids to come over. We were beyond blessed this Christmas and are so grateful for all of our friends and family. The Lord continues to bless our family, we are humbled and grateful.
New Years Eve this year was spent with our good friends the Wright's. We had enough food to feed an army, made lava lamps and set fire to a dummy in the front yard!! Really, the Wrights taught us about Ano viejo. A custom in South America, you write down all the things from that year (2012) that you want to leave behind you as you move into the the new year (2013). You then put them together and burn what you are leaving behind you. We each took a piece of paper and wrote down all the things from 2012 that we wanted to let go of and leave behind in 2012 as we began 2013. There was no reading of our papers. I noticed that the room grew quite quiet with the exception of a few cracks from Brandon and Cody. I thought the kids would struggle or not have much to write. Turns out, we all had things we wanted to leave behind. Mine ranged from silly to serious. I have no clue what anyone else wrote. That was one of the cool things about it. We then went out front and put them into the dummy the Wright's had brought. Cody and Brandon moved our 2012 dummy onto the lawn and to make sure it would burn, they poured gasoline on it. Personally, I think those two just wanted to make sure it was a big fire. As 2012 started to burn, there was a surprise, sparklers! Brandon and Cody had to put a little flare to our 2012. As the sparklers died and the dummy continued to burn we stood in silence and watched. After a few moments, Kari suggested we sing a song. Several of us asked what song? And in true Wright/Sandall fashion, Emma suggested that we sing "If You're Happy and You Know It". So, we watched 2012 finish burning and sang our hearts out. Actions and all. We are so grateful for the Wright family and their friendship. Silly one moment and serious the next. LOVE YOU GUYS!!
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