Update.......

A few months ago I was a mean mom (like that is a new one, -please) and took all of Kennedy's clothes out of her drawers and closet. As you recall she was changing her clothes 4 -5 times a day.  I took all of her dresses that were hanging down low and put them in my closet in the very back so she couldn't even see them. It worked for awhile. And than the 2 year old out smarted the mother.........

These (above) are all the clothes out of the hamper (below) that Kennedy dumped out, climbed on top of and  took one of Kate's dresses of the hanger and put it on.

Ok, how would she even think to do this?  How does that little devious mind come up with these plans?  Although the clothes changing has become less frequent, it is still happening. So now you will find Kennedy 2 ways; 1) with a dress and sandals on when she is at home or  2) with tear stained cheeks when we go somewhere because her mother made her put on tights/leggings and shoes (socks if there is gum involved). 

I can't wait for warm weather, my life will flow so much better.....

Kate is 8

I have very mixed feelings about this whole turning 8 business.  I went through this with Kyle. I didn't really like it than either.  There is something about this particular birthday. I know what it is but I hate to admit it.  They change, they turn into a kid, not a little kid, a big kid.  Their looks change, their mannerism change, their overall being changes.  They are of the world, so to speak. Although this is a very significant and exciting  birthday is so many ways for Kate, it is more of a reality check for me that  my little innocent 2nd child is moving on in life. I am kicking and screaming all the way behind her, but it isn't doing any good.  So I resort to pouting on my blog and trying not to think too much about it, because it is happening whether I like it or not.

Kate had a fabulous birthday with her friends and family. 1st thing the morning of her birthday it was off to Claire's for the much anticipated and long awaited piercing of the ears.  Kate hopped up on that chair and didn't look back!  She now sports some very sparkly diamond studs and asks me about every 3 days if she can change them yet (she got 12 pairs of earrings, she reminds me daily)! We had a little party at the house  and than off to  the Roller Drome in Nampa, as is a tradition now on her birthday.  We sported some 1980's skates and tried to hold on to the side as much as we could!.  Everyone had a blast.

2 weeks later Kate made the awesome choice to be baptised.  Again she was surrounded by loving friends and family.  Between Christmas, her birthday and her baptism, Kate made out like a bandit.  Smiling all the way!

From Collages

Freakin HI-lar-ious!

Thats one way to get rid of a tree

Need to get rid of your tree?  Just bring it over to the Jones/Snelling Pyro court and we would be happy to dispose of it for you.  Stay for the show! It's a chilly 14 degrees here in Boise and this technique of pyromaniacs will provide the heat you are craving!  See ya soon!

From Collages

Cole got an iTouch for Christmas (don't ask) and has found the camera feature of this amazing electronic device. I was charging it and found 59 photos in his photo folder!!! I deleted most of them but had to share the self portrait ones!  My fav - 2nd row 3rd pix!

I haven't posted a coupon deal in quite sometime and so I didn't want to disappoint! Here is the latest deal!

8 8 oz bottles gatorades (2 are currently being drank!)
2 single serving strawberry milks
1 single serving chocolate milk
5 boxes of sausage
4 bags of frosted flakes cereal
3 pillsbury cinnamon rolls (i love these big ol' fattening things!)
3 boxes of sweet moments brownies (and oh they are sweet when they are warmed up!)
4 bottles of vegtable oil

TOTAL $21.16 that is $.70 an item!

realization

i am not a huge fan of birthdays, just another reminder of how fast my kids are growing up, how many wrinkles i have acquired since the last birthday, and how fast my life is passing by.  with the passing of my uh.. umm... 29th birthday (for the 9th time), i have come to some rather real but frightening realization.  i have become a lot of things i would define as "what i didn't want to be".  i don't clean my house every week, i don't read my kids a book everyday, i don't make dinner every night, i don't go to the gym everyday, i don't tell my family i love them enough... i could go on and on.  i don't do a lot of things that i used to do and used to tell myself i was never not going to not do them. i find my self slacking more and more on things that used to be routine or habit for me. maybe it's an age thing, the wiser you are the older you are?  i am beginning to wonder if all of those things that i rushed to do and stressed over to do were really worth all that effort.  my girlfriend said something to me that really struck a chord with me. she said that she used to hate birthdays and that she would get depressed with each passing one and than someone said something to her that changed her outlook on birthdays.  they told her that you should be grateful for your birthday, it was one more year that heavenly father allowed you to be here. to be with your family, to be with your friends, to just be.  i found this quote by president hinckley that also struck a chord with me:

anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. the fact is that most putts don’t drop. most beef is tough. most children grow up to be just ordinary people. most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration.most jobs are more often dull than otherwise…life is like an old-time rail journey – delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling burst of speed. the trick is to thank the lord for letting you have the ride… gordon b. hinckley

between these 2 profound statements, the realization that i am getting older,  is ok. i need to be ok. i need to just be. i need to be more thankful for the life that heavenly father has let me live and learn to love this life.  and i guess bottom line, love me. they always say change is good, but change is hard.  with another year coming to an end i often reflect on how that year went.  on how i can try and be better and how i can make this coming year better.  this year i am going to try to just be. just be thankful for life as it is. because really, life is good.