Everything about this years has been out of the ordinary, random and different from all our others. (more so than a typical year). So we didn't expect Christmas to change this wacko pattern for the year. Everything was different and it was really hard. We tried to keep Christmas simple this year (impossible we've found out). The last two weeks have been full of parties, presents, crafts, chaos and a lot of driving! All in all it turn out better than i expected but lets face it, Christmas just isn't the same with out mom. I found myself finding it empty for me this year. But it was great to see family and to venture out of the house...lol the kids and Jake seemed to have plenty of holiday spirit though, and i bet if we hadn't got sick two days before Christmas we might of had more fun. What better way to top of a fantastic year than to have all of us sick through Christmas?!

Ah Oh! I did it AGAIN!

My family always hates that right when my hair gets really long, i cut it off...well right before Christmas I went a little crazy, and chopped off my hair again! I love it so much, and it has been so fun to do! I loved my hair long this time around, but i just really needed a change. when i feel something needs to shift in my life...i usually start with the hair lol

Yay! Jake Built me this BEAUTIFUL dresser! He's been slowly working on it here and there when he had time (which wasn't very often) and now after a long time, its all finished! Is so nice, and we really needed the storage...thanks Jake :)
My table leg has been wiggly for a while, jake took it to the shop to fix the leg and while it was there he refinished it. I dont have a "before" picture but it had gotten pretty banged up over the years. It was a wedding present from my brother and his family, and now its just like new again. (the chairs still need a bit of work ;)

We've been trying to relax, and have fun during these stressful months we've been having...Our kids are good at having fun and being carefree, they reminds us to laugh and play. Demetri was builing a slide in the family room... Jake helped him out, and demetri was laughing so hard.

Now, anyone who knows me or has seen a picture of me has notice; i cant resist a flower or two! I think they are just so fun. I've tried to not wear them, but then when I'm getting ready there is just that one spot of hair that looks funny, or that side that is just not going right...through that flower on... ta-DA! I Think they are fun for any occasion and great to add to that festive outfit for the holidays. :)And even though they are my weakness, they look even better on little girls! I love seeing a cute little girl at the store with two flowers on her pig-tails, they are so sweet...I love these simple little things that i decided to go nuts and make a ton of them!

Now that i have a zillion of them i decided to sell them...any takers?! I have a bunch of colors, here are just a few examples but there are many MANY more! As you can see i have more than flower hair clips. I realize with little Naomi, that not everyone has enough hair to wear the clips, so i started putting them on headband and hats too!So now i have ALOT of Flower clips which can be put right in your hair or clipped on these head bands and hats. I have many colors of headbands and can get the hats in ANY color.

I'm going to sell the
-flowers (which are silk flowers with jewels in the middle and hair clips which are camouflaged with matching colored ribbon and hair grips on the back sides) for $4.00
-head bands alone for $2.00 (you can choose the crochet 1", 2" or cotton pokadot/striped
-head bands and a flower combined $5.00
-Hats $5.00. (i have large sizes for children and adults and small for toddlers and infants)
These hats are soft knit hats. They look great with the flowers clipped on, but also are really cute with ribbon threaded through them and a bow tied on the side! so fun! yay

And of course i made some fun Christmas flowers etc. These would make great gifts for any girls you know. Got a daughter? grand daughter? sister? mom? grandma? cousin? niece, or friend? Girls of any ages can have a bit of fun, right?

Here are some more colors and styles i through together....

They are just a fun project but if anyone is interested let me know! :) thanks And MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Well I've survived two months exactly with out my mommy...If survived is the word you'd like to use, i fully admit I'm having a hard time. I've talked to a lot of people who have told me it would get better, but every day seems harder!? It is still so hard to believe, but its a lot easier to just think of her as if she is on a long trip, gaining knowledge to share with me when we meet again and just once again, being one step ahead of me. The hard part is this is a super duper long trip in which i am to continue alone with out my best friend. I have definitely had my eyes opened and realized how strong of a testimony she helped me to build. She was my support and i leaned on her for everything, once she was gone it would have been so easy for me to just fall...but my testimony filled that spot; that support position. Its so hard to not have her to talk to but I'm thankful for those of you who have been there for me, and I love you Mom....

Hahaha! k so this was taken Thanksgiving morning... Every time we watch it we laugh even harder! We had music going while we got the kids ready to go down to my dads house. I was in a silly mood and trying to get everyone in fun and happy moods too... so i was goofing off an Jake insisted to get it on camera. I'm surprised he held the camera still because he was laughing so hard. Anyways it just shows what a nutty person i am i guess? Well i hope it makes you smile too. If nothing else you'll feel better about your own dance moves lol.

Thanksgiving was great. It was really hard to have the first holiday without mom...Thanksgiving especially, because mom was the one who made all the delicious food! We did our best to pull it together and mom taught us well on how she made everything. It was pretty simple this year, just dinner, conversation, family and a bit of early Christmas music. I sure do love my family and I'm so thankful for my mom and all she taught me while she was here. I hope your thanksgiving's were wonderful and that you remembered to be thankful and grateful for what you do have because you never know when it'll be gone...

UPDATE!!! I've gotten so behind on my posts! I wanted to catch up because a lot of stuff has happened that i wanted to share. I just was gone for three months and so busy since I've been back that i hadn't had a chance til now. So this is about half way caught up.

This month my mother in law was married...again.
All the daughter in laws

Jake and i had a blast dancing! It had been so long since we'd had a chance to dance together, and the party definitely needed to be livened up!

Here's their cake...
This cute little thing is bailey, she's always so shy but i love her. And the girls looked so pretty! We got this cute little pic of our family.

We buried my mom in Monticello. It was a long drive, but so pretty! It definitely was difficult to do, but things went smoothing and a few of our relatives came down too. My dad's uncle performed the services, he is such a great man and that part was perfect....


Sadie was so sweet as she said goodbye to her mother. Her and my dad are handling things as well as they possibly could, and I'm sure the two of them will grow very close through the years. I love you guys.
My dad's uncle snapped this picture of whats left of our family. I love them so much and I'm grateful i still have them with me on this earth.

This is my nephew cooper, he was "planting this rose for his nanna". so sweet.

One thing that has happened since i last posted anything is, Jake's best friend returned from his mission! yay!
So...here are some pictures of his homecoming.


This sweet heart in the pink is katherine, Jake and i like her a lot...we hope she hang around. ;)

Jake and i finished out the soccer season, I missed almost every game though because i was helping my mom alot throught those few weeks...

Here are some pictures of Naomi that i had meant to put up months ago...