Back to the Basics

I have learned something very important over the years and it have become much more of a reality since our move. I have learned the key to being happy, wanting what you have. I'm sure you all know it, but I think sometimes we forget get caught up in things and don't realize what we already have.
For me the key to being happy is wanting what I have. I truly am blessed, I have two beautiful children. I have an amazing husband who will work 90 hours a week so that I can enjoy our two kiddos, I have a wonderful extended family, parents, in-laws, etc. We have roof over our heads. We have the gospel which gets us through the hardest of times. And truly we are just blessed by having each other, we would be even if we were in a cardboard box.
I don't know how I would have made it through the last few months without my family, each of them has helped us through some big and trying times in some pretty extraordinary ways. Be it listening to me break down about one of a million things, or driving hundreds of miles to help us unpack a truck, or losing sleep to pack up our house. I am truly grateful for the amazing family that I have been blessed with, I don't know how I would make it without them.
I have had quite the revelation since moving into our apartment, things aren't everything. I think for a while we got caught up in the infamous "things," we needed couches, tvs, better cars, better clothes, pretty decorations, toys, etc. Moving to an apartment a third the size of our house made me evaluate what we needed and what we could live without. I am pretty sure I took at least 10 bags of toys to the DI, I have a set of pans in storage along with a tv, 10 bins of clothes, a bin or two of toys (yes after taking that many toys to the DI we still had to store some), a set of couches, and several other things that I've come to find I can live without. Really I haven't even noticed what isn't here. We have everything we need and I'm pretty sure we could live happily without it all.
 All this boils down to is that I would rather have zero possessions and just my family and good friends then a bunch of crap that I don't even use. I am starting to really place a value on the things that matter like spending more quality time with my kids and husband, getting my education, and finding ways to be there for family and friends that are miles away. I just really am finding happiness and fulfillment in those things that can't be taken away from me.
And now that I have rambled on and on I will leave you with some pictures of people that mean a lot to me. I don't have pictures of everyone, but I also didn't want to post a million. I think my new goal will be to get pictures of those who seem to be photo shy :)

Pictures....

Since it has been a while since I have posted, I thought I would share some pictures of the last few months. Hailey took the one's of Ikey and I. She is quite the little photographer :)

The creepy Easter Bunny at Walmart.

Soccer 

Hailey refused to smile for the camera...go figure.

Sassy Kids

Ikey and Cousin Zane

Love these kids!

Cool spot at the park

Hailey took this, she rocks!

Cuddling on the couch!


I hope you all enjoyed these. We have had a fun few weeks and there are many more updates and pictures to come!

Denver, Stay At Home Mom, What??

Well hello everyone! We are back and hope to be a little better about this, this go around. We have had quite the life changing events over the last couple months...

First we had birthday fun in April which included taking a trip to Colorado since I had taken a few days off for mine and Ike's birthdays. It was not very well planned, but it was very fun. We pretty much just booked a hotel room and hopped in the car. We however forgot many things like Ike's birthday presents and that it would Easter when we got home and we had purchased nothing! We pulled it all off pretty well, thanks to our minivans stow and go seating area, we were able to hide all of the presents and Easter supplies in the floor :) For Ike's birthday we celebrated with cake for breakfast...I think this may become a new tradition it sets the mood for the day and tastes delicious! However Hailey found it so great that she would like to celebrate her next birthday in Hawaii or Mexico....this could get expensive in a hurry.

Next we were on to Jason getting a job offer with Sports Authority in Colorado! Wow we went there fell in love and now we had a job, things couldn't have been working out better. Soon Jason left for his two week summer camp, blech! While he was there Saralee got wind of him leaving and found him a job here...even better! So the kids and I began packing and throwing things away. We listed the house and found an apartment. When Jason got back, I went on a work trip while he finished and we met in Ogden to drive out with my parents. Thank you mom and dad we couldn't have done it without you, you truly are the best!!! We were settled in a day and it was great.

Jason started work and I took the week off to do some exploring and settling. I LOVED the time I was getting with the kids and they loved it too. When I had to go back to work you could cut the tension in our house with a knife. The kids HATED it. They were crabby, fitty, pouty, whiney, and just rude...I'm not sure that I was much different. After a couple days we all knew this wasn't working, so we looked over the numbers and decided I needed to be done working. I finished out the week and have been exploring parks, libraries, and everywhere else ever since! I love being home and the kids love having me here.

This has truly been an amazing couple of months! It's been a large whirlwind, but now that it is all settling down we feel blessed by how it has all fallen into place so perfectly.
We love and miss all of our family and plan on visiting soon!!