B is getting a Cavity filled today! Happy Presidents Day to him!!

We decided to celebrate today by going to the dentist! Woohoo!!

What a week!

Oh my goodness! What a week it has been! Brayden woke up at 6AM on Monday morning to tell me that he had thrown up on his bedroom carpet and that he still didn't feel well. He ended up throwing up 11 times before noon. I finally couldn't take seeing him so sick anymore so I gave him some medicine that the hospital had given Kaylee for anti nausea about seven months ago. He had a fever until Wednesday afternoon and then it finally broke. Mind you, in all this time he has barely eaten enough to keep even at tiny creature alive. Fortunately he was able to keep fluids down after I gave him the medicine. Today he said he wanted to try to go to school so I said he could give it a shot. The school called at 11 and said he wasn't doing too good and needed to come home.
I went and got him and we rested most of the day. (Because all this time I have not felt good either.) So around 4:00 today I was starting dinner and he was saying that he was starving....GREAT sign! We had meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn. I gave him a small piece of meatloaf and he devoured it! He has been starving ever since. AWESOME NEWS right!? "He's feeling better", I thought!
.................Hes been in the bathroom all night............

REALLY!? ARGH! Poor kid can't catch a break!

Earlier tonight Kaylee and I were getting ready to go to Savemart. As we were walking out to the truck I saw a HUGE toad hopping around on the driveway! The kids were loving watching him jump around....until he jumped right on into our garage! Kaylee about died! lol SO HILARIOUS! In our garage Sean has built some shelving for storage. This cute little,big toad went right next to our "sports bin" and I could not get back there. So I told Kaylee that we would just go to Savemart and that maybe when we got home he would show himself and I could catch him and let him go in the yard.
I guess I should clarify why she is freaking out.....we have a doggy door that we keep open so Maverick can go outside if he wants. LOL She was wigging out so bad worried that the frog was going to come in the house! I was cracking up!
Anyway...so when we got home he was out and by her bike tire. I got a cup and tried to catch him and he scurried away and went under some other stuff we have out there. FOILED AGAIN! Hes a sneaky little thing! So I came back in the house. Served the kiddos some dessert and then went on froggy watch again. Actually....I am a very messed up individual. I thought it would be kind of funny to give it some time and then when Kaylee finished her dessert I sent her out to look for it! BAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA (Is this only funny to me? Are you laughing??) I was cracking up!
Anyway...so she went out there and came in leaping and screaming "I found him he's by my bike again! HURRY!!! Come catch him!!!"
So I go out there and got a cup and I was able to capture him this time. The minute I got him in the cup I hear a high pitched squeal and the scattering of little feet and a door...SLAM!!!! Kaylee had run in the house! She ditched me! I took the frog out to the lawn and as I was letting him go I walked in and said "You'd better closet the garage door before he hops back in!" She she pushed the button and it scared the frog and he started hopping. She freaked out and again I hear a squeal, scurrying on feet and SLAM!!! ..........(Crickets chirping).............. She had ditched me again! LOL I guess maybe you had to be here but it was hilarious!
I swear every time Sean is away on business trips this house goes to chaos LOL. None of the peculiar stuff happens when he's here! Cracks us up!
So we are nearing the weekend and we are interested and excited to see what tomorrow will bring! We are hoping for a fully mended boy and NO frog drama!
I feel like I'm leaving something out. This post may officially be "To be continued"

My recipes!

I have figured out how to add pages to my blog! (Thanks to my cousin Niki!) I can add up to 20 different pages! I made a few different tabs. If you look just under the picture of my little family there are some tabs you can click on.  I will try to add more recipes soon. There are a lot of good ones in my collection!

Monster Truck Races!!

So we had originally planned to be in LA this weekend and plans fell through. Since we didn't get to go there and go to Disneyland like we had planned we decided to sit on our butts and watch television! .....Hold on, Hold on....that's not the funnest part! While we were watching television I saw a commercial for Monster Jam!! I immediately called Sean and asked what he though about going. He went to Arco Arena a couple hours later and got our tickets! I have wanted to go see the Monster Truck races since I was a kiddo! And especially since Grave Digger was going to be there! When Sean told me he went and got tickets I was so excited I about peed my pants!
We went last night and it was SOOO fun!!!
For some reason it will not let me post the killer videos we got! It only let me post the video of the motorbikes which is in the post just below this one, I believe. I'll have to see if I can compress the videos we have of the trucks doing their freestyle runs so you can all see them! In the meantime here are some pics we got! :o)

GRAVE DIGGER!!!!

Spiderman!!!!

 Spidey Vs. Grave Digger...

 Spidey wins!!!!

 This (above) is the Spiderman truck Vs. Titan. Titan is the only California driver there. (That night) He beat Spidey in the drags and this was his first win of 2012.

 I found this guy somewhere along the way....He's a pretty good dude. I'm gonna keep him. Plus, I kinda like him! <3

We had a very good time! We are very excited for the motocross Freestyle Competitions in February! Brayden about died when he saw all the tricks those motorcyclists could do! Kaylee had a great time too!

Motorbikes at the Monster Truck Races!!!

This is a video of the Motorbikes they had there. This peeked our interest so much that we are going back on Feb 24th or 25th to watch these dudes tear it up!

Organization Makes Me Happy!

I will be the first to admit that I have been a huge slacker! 2011 threw me for a loop and I got so behind! But now....I'm back!! And oh is it nice!! I think my menu's and my cleaning chart are my most favorite!

Fighting the Facebook Feelings.....

I am not going to lie. I am experiencing a small amount of withdrawal. And by small I mean VERY minuscule. I was doing the dishes today after making what seems like 100 brownies for Enrichment tonight and the thought entered my head, "What if I just go back and REALLY whittle down my friends list to maybe just family and close close friends?". That can't be all bad, right? Then I decided that is like an alcoholic going into a bar saying "Can I just have a mini shot of Tequila?" or perhaps someone in need of help...."I'll help you a little, but that's all you're getting out of me!".
I'm learning throughout this process that my deleting Facebook has actually helped me believe in me. It probably sounds so cheesy but really! It's a proof of self control thing and a trust in myself thing. Why would I slight myself and let myself down by going back to something that I let make me feel so horrible? I miss seeing all the fun posts and seeing what my family and friends are up to, but I am so happy to be away from the negative and the energy sucking site. This is a self project. I will believe in me and I will love me. I tell so many people that I believe in them and that I will always love them no matter what. Time to tell myself that and do the things that will make and keep me happy. I can't rely on anyone else for that. (My Mama has told me that for years. Apparently I am a slow learner!) So with that said, Staying away from Facebook and focusing more on me and my home and family is the perfect start!

And I think it may be time to start using that small apparatus that sits upon my counter in the kitchen.....what is that called again???? Oh man! It is this little talking thingy! You can actually push some numbers and actually TALK to people from miles away! OH, yes! Its a PHONE! I know you're shocked at the reminder that these devices exist. I was too when I came across mine while cleaning the kitchen! I dusted that little thing off and VOILA! IT WORKS! Now my new goal is to actually use it! SO those of you that have called me in the last few days be patient with me! I am learning to delegate time to actually calling people. Or texting...lets be real, cold turkey on all technical devices would just be preposterous! :o)

I forgot a major part of our family! Maverick!!!

I cannot forget to mention our sweet pup, Maverick!! He is the best dog ever! He turned 4 on December 27th. He shares a birthday with my friend Alisa and my nephew Dallin!! Everyone in our family just loves him!

Our lives in 2011!

Since I didn't get a newsletter out this year (I say that like I've done it any other year!) I figure this is a good place to write one! SO here goes a breakdown of our life in 2011!

Sean is doing very well. He is still working at Orrick and commuting great distances to support our family and we love him for it! He is one amazing man! He played in a city softball league this year again and as always, he loved it. He also entered a weight loss challenge at his work. The workout program he chose to use was Beach Body's Insanity! OY! What an intense workout! And......(drum roll please).......HE WON!

Sean also got the opportunity to go to Utah and go golfing with his Father and his brothers. He had a wonderful time and loved every second of it! How could you not love being in the company of such wonderful men!? They are all some pretty great dudes!

Now on to me (Tiffanie).

It is always so hard to write about yourself. 2011 has had some pretty amazing effects on my life. In March my first born turned 18. WOW! That was so not cool! When did this happen! I distinctly remember telling all of my children that they are not allowed to grow up! I have to admit though that it has been so fun watching him grow up and pursue his dreams! That was the first major change in 2011.

Around July I got asked if I would consider being secretary in the primary presidency. That hit me like a ton of bricks! I was sure they had the wrong number. I did not in any way, shape or form feel I was the person for the job! I gave it a good two weeks to ponder, pray and think about it. After much soul searching and many conversations with Sean, my Mama and my Sister in Law, Christina I decided to go for it. I am so glad I did! I work with 3 of the most loving and wonderful ladies I could have ever hoped to! I thank the Lord every day for their love and patience! They are truly amazing! After a few months of being in the secretary position I was called and accepted the position to also be the Primary Pianist. I am SO very thankful for this calling because it is teaching me to accompany and it is also forcing me to sit down and play the piano. All in all I love it and I am having a great time!

In August we had another huge change. I was able to see Tieghan fulfill his dream of joining the United States Air Force! What an experience. We are so proud of him and are so excited to see what he can and will accomplish in his life! In October we were able to go see him graduate from Basic Training. Blake's family and Alisa's family came as well and that meant the world to me! What amazing people we are blessed with in our lives!

Now on to Tieghan:

Like I said previously, Tieghan has had a HUGE year! He turned 18 in March and then graduated High school in June! He was SO happy to finally be done with High school. It meant so many cool things were yet to come!

After graduation Tieghan was swiftly on to bigger, better things! He joined the United States Air Force in August! He had waited so long to fulfill this dream of his and now it is a reality! He started out at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas for 8 weeks. We were able to go see him graduate Basic Training which was awesome! He showed us his living quarters and explained to us how strict everything is. It was very cool!

After Basic Training Tieghan moved on to Tech School and Fire Academy at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas. He is still there now and will be graduating on February 22nd! We are so excited for him to finish and move on to his first duty station! He has learned so much and gone through so many amazing things! His first duty station is in Colorado Springs, CO at the Air Force Academy. This is an amazing base to be at and he  is so excited to start his journey there! 

Next, our little miss Kaylee:

Kaylee is doing so good! She is such a happy and lively girl! She is such a bright light in our lives! Kaylee is now in 5th grade. Her last year of Elementary school! Middles school is next and she is a little nervous but she will do great! She is in Activity Days and loves it very much. She is always so sweet and willing to help and learn. We couldn't have asked for a better daughter! This year she has grown up so much and is morphing into this beautiful young woman! Kaylee absolutely LOVES hanging out with her friends and talking and giggling! She has become interested in texting, Facebook and decorating her room with MANY posters of all the "stars" in her life! Not excluding her big brother and her little brother. They are both plastered on her walls as well! All in all she is just chillin' and enjoying being 11!

Last, but definitely not least, our Mr. Brayden!

What an awesome little dude we are blessed with! Brayden is now 9 and in the 4th grade. He is such a happy and VERY energetic kid! We often call him our "little bouncy ball, on crack!". If that is any indicator of his spirited personality! Brayden is a Webelo

B also played baseball this year for Patterson Little League and his team went to the Tournament of Champions. They were eliminated and didn't go into the finals but what an awesome experience!

Right now his favorite pass time is either climbing trees, playing video games or spying on people. He is practicing his private eye skills! He is such a happy kid and such a love!

We were able to go to Idaho and Utah also. That is always one of the funnest adventures in our lives! We loves seeing family and hanging out and having tons of fun! It is so fun to see how all of the cousins get along so well and have such a great time. We cannot wait for our trip next year!

All In all 2011 was a great year! We have been blessed in so many ways and are thankful for it! We are looking forward to what 2012 has to offer and welcome it with open arms!

Making Some Changes!

We sure have enjoyed watching Tieghan start his career with the Air Force. He seems to be loving it and looking forward to what his job will bring. Here are a few pictures of when we went to see him at his Basic Training Graduation in San Antonio, Texas, Lackland Air Force Base.

The is picture is from his Tech School at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas. He has until February 22nd there and will graduate and be off to his first duty station! We sure are proud of him!

Blakes Family and Alisa's family joined us. We are so thankful and touched that they were able to make the trip. I know it meant a lot to Tieghan and it meant the world to me to have their love and support!

Oh my goodness!

I normally consider myself to be pretty smart but this blog has got me baffled! I cannot figure out how to set it up all cute and cozy like! So bear with me while I work it all out! Until then we'll have to deal with plainness!