Mommy Tip of the Month

I have nothing else to blog about other then cold weather, wind and rain, and no one ever wants to hear about that. So instead of boring you to death about the weather, I decided to share with you some information about your power company,  & save you a few bucks. 

Most power companies have a program call "On Peak--Off Peak". Just like your cell phone. For example... "On Peak" hour are from 8am--11pm (based on seasons & location) and we pay $0.10 a kwl. "Off Peak" hours are from 11pm-8am M-F,weekends & Holidays, and we pay only $.04 a kwl. It my sound like ridiculous hours, but what about that heater/AC the runs all night long, what if you started the dishwasher right before you went to bed, or first thing in the morning. Or tried to do most of the laundry on the weekend. And what about Holidays when the family comes to visit, you would be paying only a fraction of what you normally pay. Since we have switched to "On Peak--Off Peak" we have cut our Power Bill by more then half. And we haven't had to make dramatic changes in the way we do things. 

Just thought everyone should know, you don't have to pay as much for energy as you think. But do keep in mind every city, state, and company does it differently, so be sure to ask a lot a questions when you call. You don't want your "On Peak" hour rate to be higher then the norm.

Good Luck.

Three's a crowd... or is it

Kellen climbed in bed with us again last night, I can't tell you how many times he has done that. I hear him crying in the other room, hoping that he is more asleep then awake, and that the only thing he really wants is his Binky. Thinking myself to be unlucky, all he wants is his mommy. I try to console him, and try to convince him to go back to sleep. With my futile efforts, the tears get bigger, and the cry becomes deafening. Finally I give in. I place Kellen between Preston and I, and climb back into bed. Kellen's arms reach around my neck, holding as tight as his tired little arms can. I place one arm around him and return his tight embrace. I whipped his tear streaked face with his blanket as we lay face to face with our noses touching. And it was then that I realised something. These moments are fleeting, my baby is nearly two, and some day he won't want to climb in bed with his mom any more. I laid there with Kellen, finding myself the luckiest person in the world. Yes I do get a few kicks to the gut in the middle of night, and barely get any sleep at all, but I wouldn't wish to be any where else. I am so thankful to be a mother, and I am so thankful for Kellen's sweet spirit. I laid there next to Kellen and watch him drift off to sleep like a little angle. I hope I can remember the feelings I had last night, and always be grateful for the times that Kellen wants to snuggle with his mommy.

I place this photo in tribute of the article above. Kellen and I snuggling after he got his stitches.

In God We Trust

San Francisco--An atheist who has spent four years trying to ban the Pledge of Allegiance from being recited in public schools is now challenging the motto printed on U.S. currency because it refers to God. Michael Newdow seeks to remove "In God We Trust" from U.S. coins and dollar bills, claiming in a federal lawsuit filled Thursday that the motto is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. Newdow, a Sacramento doctor and lawyer, used a similar argument when challenged the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools because is contains the words "under God"

The majority of the United States hold to Christen beliefs, yet it is the minority that are being heard, making new rules, and taking away our rights to practice religion. Why are we standing in a dark corner? BE PROUD to be a Christen, and stand in the Light so everyone can see you. "In God we Trust" is more then just a motto, It brings hope to the destitute, It brings peace to those that morn, It brings Comfort to those that have lost everything. And if we take away "In God we Trust" then we are giving up on all of that.

Be Heard! NBC is holding a poll to see our views about the U.S. motto, place a vote and be heard. "In God we Trust" Stays.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521

or click on the Title to taken strait to the link.

Sacramento Vacation

Preston and I just got back from vacation in Sacramento. It was wonderful to get away from Rexburg for a few days and see some family, the beautiful weather was also a plus. For the most part, all we did was swim, enjoy each others company, and eat food, lots and lots of food. That is my kind of lazy vacation. A special thanks goes out to Matt & Jess and Boyd & Brittany for letting us invade their homes. 

While we were on vacation a lot was going on back home. Our ward was split, and all of the Rexburg ward boundaries were reorganized. So needless to say we returned home to find thins a little crazy. Elder Ballard will be coming this Sunday to organize a new Stake. A lot going on here, but we are excited to see what our new ward is going to be like. 

Snake River Snorkeling

River Snorkeling is Preston's new found joy. This is Preston and Cory's first attempt, on which many valuable lessons were learned. One being that it takes about an hour in 60 degree water to get mild hypothermia. By the time they made it back to the car, they were so cold, they could barley move. Since then, Preston has bought himself a wet suite and has enjoyed a few more trips down. He says it's beautiful, full of fish and sea grass. It's nice to see him find new things that he enjoys, especially things that we can do together. I have always loved the water, and have been blessed enough to go Scuba Diving and Snorkeling on many occasions, with friends and family. I hope to be able to share the joy I have for the water with my son when he's older.

Just a lazy day

I don't really have anything to update you on, I just felt like sharing this photo and creating another blog entry. This is how we have spending our days lately, just being lazy and being out side in the sun. Kellen is enjoying his after noon before lunch snack in the grass at BYU-I. Kellen is learning so many things, so fast. He will sign please for everything, It's the only sign language that he knows and probably the only one I will teach him. His tantrums have gone down a little since he has been signing, so that makes life that much more fun, and enjoyable. He has started to point up in the air any time he hears an air plane fly by. He picked that up from me, we live right by the Rexburg Air Port, and Air Museum, so I was always trying to get him to look at the cool planes that flew by. Now he points and I look for the plane. 

Kellen's Favorites are: Playing with a set of chop sticks, His stroller, bike Helmet, playing with the neighbor kids, sticks, rocks, mud,and fruit snakes.

Kellen's Dislikes are: coming inside, putting away his toys, and going to bed.

Kellen is a lot of fun.

I made this!!!

I have been dying to post this on here, but I had to wait for Katy B. to get it first. (it was a birthday present) So I totally made this bag! can you believe it? I have been trying to expand my talent of sowing, and thought "hey why not try making a bag." and this by far is the best thing I have ever made, and I am so proud of it. I am currently working on another project, and will post photos when it is finished. If anyone wants a bag, they're $500. 

Future Rock climber

Kellen love to climb on things, you can see him scaling up the side of the stairs in the these photo. I just hate it when he wants to climb on me though. He can be so ruff some times. But there is nothing better then his hugs and kisses. He also has many other hidden talents, like Kung Fu, wrestling, running, and throwing. Kellen has more energy then any one person should have, but it makes things fun and interesting.

Broken Dish washer

Yes we have a broken dishwasher, not a big deal, I have 2 hands and a sink. So... I was tying to re-wash all the dishes that were in the dishwasher, the ones that Preston was so kind enough to do, when Kellen came up and was going to die if I didn't give him some attention. (He hates it if I am on the phone, the computer or in the kitchen) With a whole dishwasher full of dishes, I felt like I couldn't just leave, and I couldn't ask Preston to do them AGAIN, so I put Kellen up on the counter. He watched me for about 2 seconds, then he put his hand in the water, then he started to paint himself with the bubbles, then he thought it would be easier to get to the bubbles if he put his feet in the water.  And that is how Kellen ended up washing my dishes for me, J/K.  And I know your thinking that is so gross, to let your kid play in your dirty dish water, but it was actually quite clean since the dishes had already been washed, I was basically degermafing them.

Free Cycle

The freecycle Network is made up of 4,554 groups with 5,510,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving & getting stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free. To sign up go to www.freecycle.org click on "browse groups" select your state and your city. It's like donating to DI except they get it for free and you get stuff for free. What's better then getting what your looking for,for free.