Jackson

Yesterday Allen and I decided to take a drive to Jackson to see all the colors and breath the mountain air.  It has snowed the two days before and had melted just for us.  It was still on the mountains and on the peak before coming down into Jackson Hole, but everything was so beautiful.  FALL Really is my Favorite time of year.  We ate lunch, walked through the shops, got a parking ticket...which we are not paying because we were not in the wrong, and had a treat at our favorite little bakery (cherry pie and Ice cream).  I was a very nice day and think we're going to make it a tradition to drive to Jackson every year to see all the fall colors!!!!!!  We might have to take a different car so not to be impounded or something like that...

Every Day is an Adventure...........

 I just can't help but love this face. 

We tried curlers for the first time.  They worked really good.

She loves to help me with the cloths and it just takes twice as long.

 This picture makes me so happy.  She has a pretty good laugh on her.  It's so cute.

We almost have to bottle gone, but her eye teeth are coming in so she needed some comfort and I was okay with it!

We had a visitor the other day and loved it.  We need to see more of him!!!

When October hits, I get hungry for Navajo Tacos.  I get a little homesick for home, it reminds me of Halloween, Homecoming and FAll all wrapped into ONE. 

I hate the smell of grease in my house so we used the burner on the grill and made the fry bread out there.  It worked really well.  For not being a native, I think I did pretty good!

Mommy was sick today and not looking her best, but we still had a good time going to the fish hatchery with the cousins (Allen's side of the family).

Last Days of Summer

I really love what summer has to offer, but I am always ready for a change in season.  I say this all the time but FALL is coming and I can hardly wait!!!!

We are just soaking up the sun and not worrying about dressing warm.  We play out in the yard, do a little ATving, Visit family, try new hair do's, make messes, and hang out!!!

She has a drawer in the bathroom.  I put treasures in there for her to find.  It really does help keep her from getting into the other ones.  She sure knows it's hers!!!

We always like to do hair.  Addison may not like it, but she sure looks cute when we're done.

My brother Chad had his second baby, Ruby, at the end of July and we we're all able together for her blessing

There is my little girl.  Digging in the dirt and playing outside

 The toothbrush sure helps when it comes to hair time.

Mommy is still a person too!

I thought this was good and uplifting info:
I've attached links to a good books and article that you can review too.  Enjoy!

 5 Facet Review of Self:  1. Social  2. Mental  3. Spiritual  4. Physical  5. Emotional

"Mommy is a Person" - Article by April Perry -Set boundaries so that your basic human needs can still be met.  The goal is to thrive, not just survive.  *Challenge: Choose one boundary you're going to set so that you can still feel like you are a person.  List 5 things that you need to thrive.

If you take care of yourself, your kids will notice.  Your kids are watching you and if they see your good example of self care, they'll take care of themselves too.

The Mormon Channel's interviewer asked Stephanie Nielson (of Nie Nie Dialogues) "What do you fall back on when times are tough?"  Her answer, "My husband."  Don't forget that your husband cares deeply about you and your well being.

SOCIAL - Book "Depression is Contagious" by Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D - Depression is one of the greatest tools of the adversary.  - How much do we gain from our relationships?  - When you are happy in your primary relationships, you're just happier.  - Coping skills - different stages of motherhood require different skills.

MENTAL - The importance of spontaneity and having fun for our mental well being.  - Cherish those beautiful moments.  - Have something to look forward to.  - Look up (Google) random monthly holidays and choose a few to celebrate with your family.  - Taking breaks is important.  - "Mommy's Naptime" - Article by April Perry - Nap for 26 minutes - Use your discretionary time wisely.  - Be deliberate with your time and set time limits.  *Challenge:  Make sure you have time to yourself every day.  

SPIRITUALITY - Feed your spirit.  - Nuture your spirit.

PHYSICAL - Exercise, diet, appearance, sleep - Decide to love your physical appearance today.  - Pick what is important to you about your appearance and guard that. (You may feel fine about your appearance most days as long as _________. - my hair is looking good, my makeup is on, etc.)  ROCK ANALOGY: a glass mason jar represents your day and a pile of rocks of varying sizes represents all the things you need to complete that day.  The smaller rocks are the little things (not so important things) you need to accomplish and the larger rocks are the bigger things (most important things) you need to accomplish that day.  If you fill your jar first with little rocks, the big rocks won't fit.  If you put the larger rocks in first, the little rocks will fit in the jar.  So, we should accomplish the bigger things in our day first before the little things.

EMOTIONAL - Avoid comparing yourself... compare snare.  - "The pursuit of happiness is the leading cause of unhappiness." - Be grateful for what you have now.  - Be your own kind of perfect mother.  - Do small things with great love.  - Replace your negative thoughts with positive ones.  (i.e.  Replace the thought, "None of my pants fit me." into "There's just more of me to love.")  - You wouldn't want your kids to have these negative thoughts running through their heads every day.  It is important for us as mothers to set good examples of controlling our thoughts.  - ANTS = Automatic Negative Thoughts (Squash the ANTS.)  - Don't dwell on negative thoughts.  - "You'll never plow a field if you keep turning over the same thoughts."  

- Figure out your formula for success and protect it.  - Set boundaries (Ask yourself, "What should I be doing now?) and protect what is important to you.  - Just because I can doesn't mean that I should.  -  Two daily list ideas can include: 1.  MUST DO  2. SHOULD DO  3. WOULD LIKE TO DO.  and the other idea is to do something nice every day for 1. YOURSELF  2. YOUR FAMILY  3. OTHERS. -  MARGINS= breaks, wiggle room with your boundaries *Challenge: Make a list of the rules.  - Do that which only you can do and that must be done now.  Realize that there are some things in life that are only worth doing "good enough."  *Challenge:  What are some things you can do now with your life?  What things should you do later?  

Once a week, review your 5 facets and how you are doing in each area.  Make improvements where needed.  *Suggestion:  every Sunday night, make time to review how you are doing.  

"S.M.A.R.T. Goals" Podcast   SMART Goals are: S = Specific, M= Measurable, A=Achieveable, R=Relevant, T=Timely.  Share some of your goals with your kids and invite them to set goals too.  

Learning Circles  sound like a great idea for moms to learn from each other after reading thought provoking articles.  Each article has a challenge for moms to complete and report on the next time the group meets together. 

Boat Ride

It was a beautiful day, but Allen had to work, so when he was done he rushed home and we headed to the reservoir for an evening boat ride.  We had a great time.  We strapped Addison in and took off.  We wanted to make sure that Maggie wouldn't jump in so Allen threw her right in....Well she can puppy paddle pretty good!!

Addie is just a growin!!

I've been a bit tired the last few weeks, but need to get a post in since it has been a while.  I know, I've been doing really good.  Since we've gotten home, I've just been trying to play catch up!!


















I'm so glad that everyday Addison loves books more and more.  I will hand her one in the car and she will sit and read it.  Same as she's doing here, reading it by herself.  Of course it's always more fun when mommy reads them, but then that is all we would do all day long!!!

We sure do love baths.  I'm afraid the older she gets the harder it's going to be to pull her out of the Tub!!



















She loves to try and put mommies shoes on.  It's so cute to watch her try to put her own shoes and cloths on when she finds them.  She is a smart little girl.

She sure loves her daddy.  Sunday morning are his!!!  Doesn't he look awake...it's good for him. 

We really do have a happy baby on our hands.  It's so funny cause at times she reminds me she still has a set of lungs on her!

These TWO PICTURES make me realize my baby is growing up.  As all you mothers out there know, its a bitter sweet feeling. 

Cleaning and Blanket

Today Addison and I cleaned the kitchen, her room and started cleaning the bathroom, but this little girl was getting tired.  She sniffs for her blanket and when she gets it, she smells it and hugs it!!!, I was trying to hold her off till noon, trying to transition into ONE NAP, but she wasn't having any of that.

She has been sleeping almost 3 hrs in the morning and then she lays in her be around 2:30 or 3:00 for another nap that she might sleep 30 min.  So, hence by 6:30pm she is a bear and needs to go to bed but I have to hold her off till at least 7 so she will sleep till 7-7:30am.  I was hoping she was going to wait till the summer was over to change, but I think she's ready now.  The long nap will be good, but I will miss the two naps.  (the time to get more things done)

Oh, cleaning Addison's room was fun because it was a disaster!!!  We hadn't for a few days and there were toys and cloths everywhere.  We got dressed, picked up toys and went to go through her shoes and she thought that was pretty fun.  One of the many things she's enjoying is pulling everything out of somewhere and leaving it for mommy to clean up!!! 

Quick & Crusty French Baguettes

I found this while searching around.  They are quick and easy!!

• 2 cups very warm water
• 1 packet yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3-4 cups flour

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  In a large bowl, whisk together the warm water, yeast, and sugar.  Set the bowl on top of your preheating oven for ten minutes.  Stir in the salt and add the flour a half-cup at a time, until the dough becomes soft but not sticky.  Knead the dough until elastic.
Cut the dough into four even pieces.  Roll each of them into four long, thin ropes.  Twist together two of the ropes to form one loaf.  Twist the other two ropes together to form a second loaf.  Transfer both onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
You can now bake the loaf right away (if you’re in a hurry) or allow it to rise for an additional 15-30 minutes on top of your warm oven.
Now for the SECRET: Fill a large bowl with 3-4 cups of ice.  Open your hot oven and place the baking sheet with the baguettes inside, then toss the ice cubes on the bottom of the oven and quickly shut the door.  Do NOT open your oven for 15 minutes.  Bake until golden brown, about 15-18 minutes.

Cherry Picking

Cherry pie or cherry crisp is probable one of the best things around if made with pie cherries, sorry not the ones you buy at the store, home grown and picked with love!!!!!

Growing up we had cherry trees and having those in the freezer to just pull out was taken for granted.  For the last few years I have kept my eye on who has a tree, and are they going to use them?  Well Last year I had just had Addison so no energy, but this year down the street and around the corner from us is a pie cherry tree. When I saw they were ready to pick and no one was picking them, I went a knocking. For three days I knocked morning and evening, no answer???  Then on sunday going to church I saw cars in there driveway.  They had been out of town.

They said I could have a the cherries I wanted (because they were sour to them)they are pie cherries but good for me....wooo hooo!!!!

We picked three Ice cream buckets and I really need to go finish picking the tree, cause the rest are ripe and will be gone in another day or so, but I'm so happy to have cherries in the freezer to use for the year till I can pick again. 

I though this little girl was going to give a sour face when she tried the cherries, but she loved them and wanted more...go figure!!!!