Finally some nice weather!

In Idaho it is definitely a long time coming every year, but we are finally seeing some good weather! Ronnie finally talked me into going to the driving range with him on the Saturday before Mother's Day...it was fun, but I need a TON of practice! Hopefully I can get good enough that we can actally play a whole game without me driving him crazy! Here are a couple of pictures...

Blessing Marathon...

OK, here we go with my blessing marathon...I hate making excuses for not blogging, but seriously...life has been crazy! So, to make up for it, I'm gonna have to say that my blessing # 16 is...

BLOGGING!...Yeah!

Blogging is the greatest creation...(you know besides the earth, water, Diet Coke & Ronnie)...I have really enjoyed staying connected and caught up with all of my friends and family. It is also a way to help me document everything that is going on in our lives...I am horrible about remembering dates that things happened, and since I am really bad about keeping a journal...blogging is the closest thing that I have - and I LOVE it!

Blessing # 17 - This...

This just arrived in the mail today...YIPPEE! I have had my little Escort for about 6 years now and earlier this year after reading Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" (a must read for anyone trying to get out of debt...which should be everyone!)

I decided to kick it into full gear...we've never had a lot of debt, but since the beginning of the year we've been able to pay off over $4000 worth of credit card and car debt which leaves us with only the Subaru payment...this is a HUGE blessing to Ronnie and I! I am so thankful for all of the advice we get, whether it is from friends, family, co-workers or the pages of a book - we are so lucky to have these resources to remind us of what is really important!

Blessing # 18 - My missionary


I can call Brendan "My Missionary" can't I? I just love my baby brother and I'm so proud of him and I'm glad that he is doing so well on his mission in Brazil. It's so fun to talk to him on Christmas & Mother's Day...none of us ever want to hang up! This is my 3rd (and last) brother to serve a mission and it's so crazy to me how much they mature over the 2 years...I know it sounds so cliche, but they really do come back as men! The other day I happened to be sitting in front of the computer when he emailed me, so of coarse I emailed back right away and we got to have a short little conversation...it wasn't much, but it made my heart happy that I got to have my own little private chat with him. I am so proud of him and I hope he knows how much he is a blessing in my life.

Blessing #19 - My BIG BRO Logan
On my brother's and sister's birthdays I like to let them know how much I love them! Logan's birthday was on Tuesday last week and Ronnie and I went up to Rexburg for a little party...it is always nice to have a good excuse to go up there (I think we need more of them because we don't get up there as often as we should) I got to play with the nieces and visit. Anyway, Logan and I are only 15 months apart and were partners in crime! Just look how sweet and innocent we were...Awwwwwww... Mom, stop rolling your eyes!

My mom tells stories of how perfect Logan was until I came along, apparently I was into everything and Logan learned from my evil ways! Logan is one of the smartest people that I know, lucky for me, he was pretty much my math tutor from 5th grade on...Me + Math = huh? not even joking! Logan has always been such a great example to me and I hope that he knows how much I look up to him and respect him (even when the teachers were disappointed that I wasn't as smart as him). Not to mention he has the sweetest wife and the most adorable little girls!

Thanks for the lift brother!


and FINALLY...Blessing #20...BARGAINS!
I'm admitting it for the first time, but I think that I am becoming the crazy coupon lady! Thanks to my sister-in-law, Tennessa who taught me all of her tricks, I have been using coupons to get tons of stuff for practially free! I always thought that coupons were a waste of time and effort, but let me tell you that it is soooo addicting once you get the hang of it, not only that, it helps me get stocked up on things that I need or use on a regular basis. So here are some things that I got on my last little shopping trip - any guesses on what it probably costed me (there is a pack of gum missing too...Ronnie took it!)?


All this for only...$2.66! The first time I ever used coupons I got 8 boxes of cereal (the good kind like Cinnamon Toast Crunch etc), 5 12 packs of Pepsi products, 2 bottles of Palmolive dish detergent, & 3 tubes of toothpaste all for only about $18.00! I know I know...I addicted!

Blessing # 15-Gatherings

Whether it is with family or friends, I have always enjoyed gathering together with the people that I love...I think that sometimes we take for granted the people in out lives and only realize it when they aren't close by. I get so excited every time my family comes into town, I feel lucky that they live so close now and that they can drive here to visit in just a couple of hours! I also love being able to spend the weekend in Soda, especially when the whole family is there...the craziness is the fun part!

Here are my two favorite sisters! (and the spoiled dog)


I also really enjoy hanging out with all of my friends in the ward...we have such a fun group! Last month I "hosted" a Murder Mystery Dinner Party...Wild West themed...it took tons of planning, but it ended up being sooooo fun! The food was delicious (Cafe Rio's Pulled Pork Barbacoa Salad)---YUMMY---and everyone really got into their charaters...even the boys...I was TOTALLY impressed! I assigned the parts to everyone before I really read into them at all, so there were a several real life husband & wife's that played "couples" in the game, but everyone else was just assigned the part of a single character. So it was funny because I actually assigned Ashley the part of the murder and her husband, Nick the part of the charcter who got murdered...oopsy, I guess they had to work that one out on their own! :) Here is a fun picure of the group...don't we look awesome?!?


Whose this sexy cowboy?