Life's little changes

We've had many little changes in our household recently that have impacted our little world. First of all, Brad just finished his first week as an accountant at a CPA firm in Las Vegas! He is enjoying his job so far, and I'm enjoying taking his suits to the dry cleaners on a regular basis. (Not really, but he does look pretty handsome in them) I am grateful for everything he does for our family. He is still chugging away at his Masters classes too and will be done in December if all goes well. Then he will turn his efforts to the CPA exam. I'm looking forward to the day that my husband can come home from work and just be home and not study (I'm sure I'm not alone on that one!) (I don't know what will be left of the blogging world when all of our husbands are just home.)
I think the next change that is rocking my world a bit is Jaders crawling! She is so stinkin' cute! She gets up on all fours and rocks back and forth and then makes a nose dive for something. I just hate that she can get little pieces of junk in her mouth - I think it is a nightmare for every mother of a crawler!
Next, a got a new church calling - the primary president. I was called about two months ago and I'm just now numbing from the shock. We had our first activity on Saturday - the pioneer day breakfast for the whole ward. It went well and I'm just glad it is done and over with. Things have gone pretty smoothly. I love the little kids and I am working with some really talented people. It certainly just goes to show that when you're comfortable, the Lord has a way of shaking things up a bit!

Our beautiful new cousin!

Sydney Olivia Smith was born this morning at 8:06 a.m. via c-section. She weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. Samantha has been staying with us while her mom recovers. She is super excited for her new sister. Here are some pics of the little one.

Jade is 6 months!

Jade hit the six month mark on the 15th. I had a "well" check scheduled today that turned out to be a sick appointment! She hasn't been sleeping well the past few nights…okay she hasn't been sleeping at all! (Which makes for a grumpy mama might I add.) Turns out the poor girl has a double ear infection. After a big o bottle of amoxicillian, hopefully she'll be ear infection free next doctor's visit in two weeks. (I couldn't bear to make her suffer through shots today!)

Jade's six month stats: 16 pounds, 24 inches (average on weight, a little short on height)
Accomplishments: she can crawl/scoot (I, know, why is it always the people (like me) with crap on their floor constantly that have kids that crawl before six months!)
she just discovered her feet!
she loves Dominic!
she isn't into any food whatsoever - just nursing, a lot (which happens to be my exercise regimine at the moment)
she has the cutest laugh and really gets going when you tickle her ribs or neck
makes the "lip face" often - which I'm pretty sure she gets from me. (I always tuck my lips in when I'm concentrating)
(The last picture shows this face!

We love, love, love our little Jade.

Memories

Memories...:)
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!


2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.

Dinner this week…

So I am always trying to figure out what to make for dinner. I have found that I spend the least amount of money and actually follow through with dinner when I have a plan for all my meals for the week. I often feel like I get into a cooking rut and make the same 'ol things over and over. So, I am going to try ot blog my weekly meal plan in hopes that my bloggin buddies will do the same and I can get some variety in meals! So here goes…

Monday - FHE (my wonderful mom cooks for all of us - how lucky are we? One less day I have to plan for. She made Sloppy Joes with corn on the cob)

Tuesday - Brats with chips and fruit
Brad grilled the brats, opened the bag of BBQ kettle chips from Fresh 'n Easy, washed grapes, etc. for fruit

Wednesday - Lori's chicken Vodoo Salad (had great reviews from Corey, can't wait to make it.)
Check out Lori & Earl's blog for the recipe

Thursday - Sweet & sour meatballs (never have tried it, but they sound good)
Go to sugardoodle.net/melsrecipes

Friday - Hula stir fry (again, a first time meal, I'll let you know the out come)
Go to sugardoodle.net/melsrecipes

Saturday - Navajo tacos (Sara's concoction, last time I made them -yum!)
Basically, a twist on traditional tacos. Instead of using shells, make scones from Rhodes rolls. I top with some homemade guac., salsa and sour cream. We scarffed them down last time.

Sunday - Day of rest! Dinner at Brad's mom. I usually try to bring dessert.

Okay, now everyone post your meal plan so I have something to cook next week!
(I've already done the Taco Bell, McDonald's and Wendy's plan for the past month while Brad's had classes at UNLV!)

Okay, I know it's late…

But who in the heck would dress their kids like this?
I found these lavish outfits while searching for some cute hairbow ideas for Jade. Each of these concoctions are like $200. I suppose they are marketed to people who have more dollars than sense or just like their kids to look like a freak show! How obnoxious!

Check out my Slide Show!

Happy 4th of July!
I love the 4th of July. Today was a fun day. We hosted a BBQ at our house with Matt, Heidi and family, Sara, Mike and family, Grandma and Grandpa Frehner and Grandma and Grandpa Byington. I wish we had a bigger eating area because everyone was trying to balance their paper plate on couch cushions and their laps:)
We had a feast of brats, hot dogs for the kiddos, carne asada from the Mexican meat market (yummy), pasta salad, macaroni salad, potato salad, grilled corn on the cob and my amazing fruit trays that I got for $1.00 at Food 4 Less.
After grubbing on food we walked to Water Street for the City of Henderson fireworks show. It was good ten minutes of beautiful fireworks. After that, we watched our neighbor's illegal fireworks, hoping the roman candles wouldn't land on our roof anf torch our house. Finally, the "men" (Brad, Matt and Mike) lit our humble collection of pyrotechnics! I think the boys enjoyed the fireworks more than the kiddos!
We had a very fun day. We are grateful to live in a country where we have so many freedoms. In a time where people can be so negative about the country we live in, I am so thankful that our Heavenly Father preserved this nation to be the place where the gospel could be restored. We take so many things for granted, we are very lucky to be able to raise our little family and be so blessed. God bless the USA. We love America!

Powdered doughnuts…

Everyone has heard the saying "a picture's worth a thousand words" the question in my house is, how many of those thousand are four letter words? Do you know what's wrong with the world today? In my days of growing up, if my parents walked in and caught me like this they would have kicked my butt, not busted out a camera and started taking pictures! (That could be the reason that this has been the scene four times in my house in the last week.) The first time, I took pictures, he has been scolded everytime after:)
This little guy has discovered a fascination with baby powder. You think I would have chucked it all the first time. Apparently I like to be tortured! Today while I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the bathroom, Dominic (who I thought was watching "Bob the Builder" was turning his room into a snow covered delight, again.) I was trying to clean my house because I had a primary meeting at my house tonight. Of course, Dominic takes no nap today, makes three messes in the time it takes for me to clean up one mess, wakes up Jade, whines, spills liquid on just mopped floors, drags out every toy he owns, manages to make his room look like a tornado just hit it. Needless to say, he has successfully pushed every one of my buttons today!
Okay, so after just typing that I feel really guilty. He did do some sweet things today. When I found my little powdered doughnut perched on the changing table sprinkling baby powder all over, he said (when he saw me) "I made Mama sad." He also was helping me "clean" at one point by wiping the chairs with Lysol wipes. He really is a sweet boy, even if he does make incredible messes.
(Why do I feel like I need some Prozac right now?)