MONEY MONEY MONEY...

Lately I juts feel like we spend spend spend. Well several months ago I found a blog that gave the idea of a "No spend Month". The blog is about a family's journey living on a very strict budget for 31 days. I thought it was such a great idea and decided that I needed to try it some time.

Well the time has finally come to try it. However, Mike and I are only going to try it for 28 days since that is how many days are in February. Basically we are going to be living off $250 for the entire month. The $250 is going to cover: food, household items, gas, entertainment, and other basic needs. Don't get me wrong it is going to be tough, but I think we will learn something about our spending habits and hopefully change some of those spending habits.

The blog I was reading gave some really good tips on eating healthy on a budget and trying not to buy the excess things that we buy. I am totally guilty of looking for things that will help improve my life when I am at the store, but do I really need those things.

I already know it is going to be tough. I know there are somethings that I won't compromise on. But hopefully it will make me more creative in my thinking and in my meal preparation.

Here is the blog is you would like more information: http://smallnotebook.org/2008/07/01/july-is-no-spend-month-whats-it-about/

I think everybody should try it just to see if you can do it, but you may have to change some of the rules to fit your family needs.

Happy Birthday to you....

I can't believe that it has been a full year since Grant became a part of our family. He has been such a great blessing and has brought such a joy to our home. Mike and I just can't believe that he is ours to keep. We just love him so much.


Today we celebrated by having some family and friends over for cake and ice cream. I attempted to make a Lego cake. We gave Grant his very own Lego cake and he loved it. He was so funny about eating it.

Happy Birthday Grant. Grant showing off his balloons and his Birthday hat.

Why did we get him presents when he just wanted to play with the balloons.

Thanks Mom & Dad, I love my present.

The attempt at the Lego cake.

Yummy, yummy, I love cake.

The final result before clean up.

Singing Happy Birthday

Grant trying to eat the cake with NO hands. This is a frequent thing that he does, he just decides that he doesn't need hands when you have a mouth that you can use for everything even picking up toys and cakes.

"Twas the Season"

December has been a whirlwind of a month.  It first started out with my birthday followed by Christmas and a trip to Utah to ring in the New Year. 

Christmas was great with Grant.  He loved it.  We just decided to get Grant just 2 presents and he loved both of them.  He played and played while Mike and I opened the rest of our presents.  After we opened up our presents we went to the Kellis’ house for brunch and some family time.  It is great to have family so close. 

The day after Christmas we drove to Utah to visit my family.  It was a long drive with Grant and the roads were so bad because of all the snow, but we made is safe and sound. 

Our week in Utah was filled with lots of events like hanging out with family, sledding, roller skating, New Year’s Eve at First Night in Provo, and much much more. 

Here are a few pictures of all the events from the month.  

Merry Christmas

It all started about a year ago when I came home to find my wife experiencing small waves of cramping pains. She had gained a significant amount of weight over the last several months (despite my constant protests and reminders), and I had frankly become concerned. As the pain increased in severity and in frequency, I decided the most prudent thing to do would be to take her to the hospital. Imagine my surprise the next day to find the hospital decided to just give us a new little baby boy. I was hesitant to accept the kid at first, cause everyone knows how hard a baby is. You hafta feed it every week and let it outside when it cries, but I remembered how good I felt that time I helped the African prince retrieve his millions simply by giving my bank account information to those nice email people. Then, I knew helping this little baby would be worth it.

Jolynn seemed to have a hard time with it, of course, cause she’s not real smart with that kind of stuff. It seemed like everytime that little baby goo-goo’ed or laughed she would just start crying. I thought it was kinda cute, but it would just bum her out. Also, she’s kind of a bully to the little guy. Whenever he pulls out all the tupperware and all of her perfumes and makes a big mess, she just points and laughs at it.

All in all, though, we’ve done such a great job with that baby that it has just kept growing and growing. It walks all around the house now, and we don’t even have to give it anymore food each week – it just goes right out to the porch and eats up all the rocks and dirt that we used to sweep off. The cat shares food with it as well, so that’s another bonus.

Actually, to be quite honest, this year might have been pretty rough. We lost a brother to cancer a few months ago, as well as a friend to the same just a few weeks ago. A noble Grandfather’s life became a legacy to hard work and a testament to the truth of eternal families when he also passed away recently. But I’m healthy, Jolynn is happy, and Grant is our joy.

And inspite of all that might have made this year sad, we are full of Christmas cheer. Which is why, your Honor, I insist on wishing you a Merry Merry Christmas!

Reflection...

Today I attended a funeral of a friend from work that was taken from this earth way to early. As I reflected on the principles that were taught at the funeral I can't help to reflect on the passing of my brother, Darin, earlier this year.

Susan and Darin had a lot in common. They both were both diagnosed with types of cancer that some one their age should never get. Darin was diagnosed with lung cancer June 2007 and passed away March 2008 at the age of 30. Susan was diagnosed with colon cancer in July 2008 and passed away last week at the age of 25.

As I attended Susan service today I had to a chance to reflect on the life of my dear brother. He was such a great example to me and the rest of my family.

I have so many great memories of Darin. Since he was just older that me we spent a lot of time together. Darin was the brother that taught me to hit properly. Of course I think he regretted it after because I constantly used him as a punching bag. When ever I got stuck on a math problem Darin was the person to ask for help. So reason he always knew the answer. Darin also like tell me about all the trivial knowledge that he knew that I thought was pretty useless.

I was able to spend several weeks with Darin before his passing. Those times are the times that I will cherish for the rest of my life. As I talked to Darin about his life and his future I was so grateful to feel his peace as he knew that he would soon return to live with our Heavenly Father. I am grateful for those special moments that we shared and the advice that he gave me. He knew that this was the plan that he had chosen from the beginning and that there were other plans for him in the after world. One of those days that I spent with Darin he said to me, "Jolynn, I am ready to go home. I don't want to be here anymore" At the time I thought that he was just giving up but now I know that his mission was complete and that he was no longer needed in this world. I knew there was a bigger plan for him on the other side and that his work would continue in the after life.

Darin, I miss you and love you. I cherish every memory that we had together. Thanks for being such a great big brother.