Other Shenanigans

Here's a few pictures from December that didn't really get posted.


Cute outfit from Gramma J. And isn't that the truth??

So many presents to put under the tree from Gramma J, Grampa, and Parker!

Nathan fell asleep under the piano bench. It had been a long day and needed a nap and didn't get one...

Chrismas PJs!

Christmas

The lights at temple square

Christmas Sunday clothes

Nathan asked Santa for a Roary Racing Car. When Santa only gave him a mini candy cane, he was quite confused. I had to pull him away as he just kept standing there. As we were walking away he turns to me and says, "I didn't get a Roary Racing Car." I tried to explain, but he was still pretty sad for a little bit.

Santa's beard is finally full of cotton balls. It's Christmas Eve!

Some words I want to remember from throughout the month that Nathan has said...
-*Nathan while praying* Bless Santa comes in the fireplace
-*Corey walks in to the living room to put his shoes on* Nathan: Dad, don't go in the fireplace, Santa's coming.
-*praying again* Bless Santa to bring presents
-Mom: We need to hurry home because Nora needs a nap.
Nathan: Yeah in her crib.
M: That's right, Nathan.
N: Baby Jesus didn't have a crib.
M: No, he didn't have a crib. He slept in a manger.
N: That's right, Mom.

Merry Christmas to all our friends. May you have a happy holiday full of warmth and joy.

Working out

This was back in September, but since I was a bit absent for awhile, I just barely put it together. It's kind of funny and it's less then 2 minutes.

Ornament

If you've been following our blog for a bit, you might remember this post about one of my favorite Christmas traditions. Well, we finally got our ornament this year!

Leaving

Corey is leaving on January 6th for 3 months. I'm not looking forward to it. He has his CH-BOLC (Chaplains Basic Officer Leadership Course) training to do. It's basically basic training for officers and you go to specific ones for whatever your job is. He was trying to get in to go in the summer but the summer slot was full. We were going to have my brother come live with me while he was gone and basically have him do most of the motel. Now that plan is thrown out the window. It's hard enough to be alone and have to take care of home and family by yourself, but I also have to manage the motel. We ran by lots of senarios, but it makes the most sense for me to just stay here. If I can just get some help watching the motel from 5-8 every night so I can do dinner and baths and bedtime, I think it'll be ok. The motel is slower in the winter and dinner and bedtime routine are really the hardest parts when you have to also watch the motel.
So if you live by me, your friendship is needed. I'm not good at asking for help because in all honesty you need help with everything when your by yourself. When somebody comes up and asks "Do you need anything?" Of course I need something. You always need help with something. You always need extra hands and someone to talk to and someone to hold your baby so you can get laundry done. Nora will be 11 months when he gets home. That's crazy. Thankfully there's things like Skype now so Nathan can still see his Dad. I know we'll get through this. I know everything will turn out fine. I know we'll become stronger people because of it. But, I'm still not looking forward to it.

6 Month Pictures

Thanks to my good friend Anbre at Chalant Moments for these super cute photos.

What? Can I help that I'm so cute?!

Thankful

Our job is really hard. It's hard on our family. It's hard on our marriage. It's hard on my spirituality, my social life. Sometimes our job and the physical location of our house makes me feel lonely and friendless. It's hard on my kids. It's hard that you always have to put the motel first. In the middle of eating dinner each night, during family home evening, reading my kids a story, watching a movie, special husband/wife time (sorry if I'm getting too personal here...). It's hard to be stuck here so much. It's hard going to family gatherings or outings with friends. It's hard to be surrounded by friends and family that are all established in their jobs and careers and houses. People forget that we are still poor college students, married college students, with two kids. We've financially had a really hard time the last few months. If it wasn't for my great husband who listened and acted on a prompting he received back before Nora was born (it was right after we sold his motorcycle) and bought food storage when we could afford it, we wouldn't have had enough to eat. When I realized this, I immediately started crying realizing my blessings. My good sister-in-law asked one day how we were doing and if we needed anything. I asked her if she had some wheat because we had used all of ours and I needed to make bread. She ended up bringing over 3 loaves of bread and some milk. Bless her. Just a couple of weeks ago, I was consolidating some bags and buckets in our storage room, trying to clean up a little and organize some things. When I picked up my wheat bucket, it felt like there was something in it. I took off the lid and found it half full of wheat. I thought maybe Corey had not checked it or something when he told me we were out. I felt bad that Natalie had brought us over some groceries. But I took it upstairs to fill up my little bucket I keep in the kitchen. I took that lid off and found wheat inside. Now, that one I know I emptied. I remember dumping the whole thing into my grinder and thinking to myself, 'Well, this is the last of our wheat. I hope this bread will last until I can buy more." For the life of me I can't think of any logical explanation. I don't know why we would've ever deserved such a blessing.

So, in spite of everything, I really am thankful for my blessings. I truly have been blessed with so much. I have a beautiful family, great kids and an awesome husband. We have a job, and a job, no matter how hard, is better than no job. I'm thankful that I get to stay home with my kids, and do the few little things I can to help out our family. I'm so grateful for promptings of the spirit and to my husband for listening to them. It's such a blessing to have a priesthood holder in our home. I'm so grateful for that influence. I'm grateful for my knowledge and testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ, for his continuing influence and guidance in my life, even when I don't deserve it.

Comparisons

Nathan, 5 months

Nora, 5 months

Nathan, 6 months

Nora, 6 months

Nathan's first Halloween (7 months old)

Nora's first Halloween (5 months old)

Nathan, 7 months old

Nora, 6 months old