YOU MUST SEE!!

Oh my goodness!  We are so excited to announce that our photo session is up on Gena's blog!!!

Here is the link to it... PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT (there is a contest going on, so leave a comment!):

http://genasusan.com/blog/?p=433

I love looking at Gena's pictures that she takes!  She is a master with the camera and is so awesome!  I cannot think of enough words to explain how awesome she is!

Here's the story of how I found out we had won!

A while ago I was on her sight and there was a contest to enter for a free session.  I entered not thinking anything of it, just wanted to spread the news about a wonderful photographer, and I won!  I was literally in shock when I found out that I had won!  Picture this: Jon taking a nap and me sitting in bed on a Sunday afternoon.  I was wondering through the internet and decided to go check Gena's blog to see who had won the contest.  I see MY name and say out loud, "Oh my gosh!" and Jon replies in a very out-of-it voice, "What?".  The only words that kept coming out of my mouth are, "Oh my gosh!!!!  Oh my gosh!!!"  Jon is now sitting up and wondering if I am hurt or need a doctor or something.  Jon says, "What is the matter?" and I replay, "Look!!  I actually won something!  I really won something!"  Jon looks at the screen says, "Woohoo!", then turns back over to go to finish his nap!  I of coarse cannot go to sleep, seeing that I had actually won something in my life!  I started bouncing on the bed and was so excited!!

To this day I am excited about having the wonderful work of Gena in our home!

Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we have!

And feel free to go look around at her website too http://www.genasusan.com/index2.php#/home/

Making progress as a green thumb!

Remember when we got all that rain here on the Central Coast?  Where the rain fell weeds grew.  It was pretty at first because of the flowers that were coming up, but then it over grew and got out of hand.  Our puppies were bouncing over the weeds through some parts of the yard as opposed to walking or running through the yard.

Today the back yard got a make over (as least a little part of it).  I was excited to get down and dirty and show those weeds who was boss of the yard.  Here are a few photos of the project.

The yard after the rain

In between stages

All the big weeds GONE!

 

Close up of the dirt that is the only thing left

Here are a few shots of the little ones modeling the backyard ;)

 (little Indie modeling as a boy)

(little Bella striking the pose)                 


Here they really are now in all their cuteness!

True California people!

WE LOVE THE BEACH!!!!!!! 

 I can't say that enough, so we decided that it would be an awesome thing to take our new Blazer out on to the beach.... even in the cold and cloudy weather!

So we went here

to get the goods that was needed.

We built our little fort with the Blazer...

Got comfortable by the fire

and cooked an amazing dinner 

on this warm little spot.

(the white spots on the pic are rain drops!)

We love the beach rain or shine.  

We love building fires like this one

We love our Indie, the sand, and we love the BEACH!

Oceano Beach, CA

Church Songs

Right now I am listening to the LDS radio online (found at this website:http://radio.lds.org/eng/) and they are talking about the history of some of the Church songs we sing.  It is so beautiful and it makes me have a new appreciation for the songs that we sing every week in Church.  How would Sacrament meeting be Sacrament meeting without songs to worship?  How would the Spirit be able to speak to our hearts if there was no music to move our souls?  How would we be able to reflect on ourselves when hearing inspired words written for us in these latter days?

There is nothing more calming than listening to the Church Hymns.  They are a blessing to me as I hear the music and words.  I would have to say that the hymn "I Believe In Christ" is one of my favorites.  "Have I Done Any Good In The World Today?" is one of the top ones in my book too.  I have to say that the Primary songs are beginning to have new meaning to me, as we sing them every week, being an adult and having a different perspective in life now.  They really do teach the little children the basics of the Gospel and to have faith in Christ.

Ok, so that's it.  My mind is clear and I can enjoy the rest of my Sunday with people I love!  Hope you have a good one too!

Yay for Foood!!

I don't know about you, but when I get home from work, the last thing that I want to do is to think of some thing to put together for dinner because I was to busy during my "spare" time to put together a list of items to make a dinner, or just didn't get to go to the store.  I found these websites that are fabulous ideas for entering what ever you might have in your kitchen/pantry and making a meal out of it all.  Oh my goodness am I way excited!  Here are the sites:

http://www.recipematcher.com/

http://www.supercook.com/

I am so going to be putting these on my favorites for my every use of the internet!  They are going to be an excellent tool for me since I am not the best at coming up with things to eat, or grabbing things from nowhere and making something absolutely delicious.  

I wanted to try it out, so I entered the keywords: chicken, spinach, and pepper jack cheese and it came up with this recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spinach-Stuffed-Chicken-Breast/Detail.aspx

I want to make it a goal to post something that I find from these websites so that people can also benefit from them.  I think it will help me stick to what I know works and also it can help make a small recipe cook diary for me.  Happy Cooking!

march...

i just have to say that i can't believe you are here already. you better take your time passing by because i need a moment to breathe. man time flies!

Happy Birthday to Jon!

 Happy Birthday to the Love of my Life, Jon!!  Thank you for choosing me to share this 

wonderful,

 crazy,

 loving

 and amazing journey we are on!

I love you!  Happy Birthday!

Warm Weather is here!

I love the warm weather!  I could just soak it all in and have the best day being outside at this beach!  Since I am just on a lunch break though, I have to make do with spending time in the backyard enjoying the warmth of the wonderful sunshine!  Here are a few photos of today's beautiful afternoon!

The puppies enjoying the sun chasing each other around and playing tag!

Taking time to rest in the nice weather

And the picture that I am most proud of for this afternoon is...

These flowers just jumped out at me and everything in the picture could not have turned out any better than this!

Oh happy days!  The sun is coming!

Ah...ah...ah...Choo!

I feel like I need to be grateful for all the rain that has been coming for a like the  past month... but my allergies are going to go nuts with all the wonderful things that are going to grow from all this rain.  Any ideas out there besides taking allergy pills to help?   PS, If you could pray for me to stay healthy that would be great seeing that I am currently living with a husband who doesn't feel well and a roommate who has pneumonia!  Lots of Vitamins for me!

Just wanted to get it out there...

So, we have had a great year so far... I know it's only February, but still we take it one day at a time and each day has been a good one. Our little puppy isn't really that little any more. He is 8 pounds and is the best little barker in the world. I love to take him on walks and just be outside. It lets me get out and think, clear the head, take a few moments to myself.

While I am on here blogging(this is the only time I get to write thoughts down) I just want to say how grateful I am to all of my family because they are great supports to me and Jon. I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ too. I don't think I have ever really known how much of an influence it has had on my life. I look back at challenges that I have had and think how much I have been blessed to have prayer in my life and knowing that I can talk with Heavenly Father at any time. He is there for me and I love that feeling.