Blessings

Sometimes I find myself stuck in ME world.  I never really take a look around me and see all the wonderful things I have been so blessed with.  It is almost like I have tunnel vision.  I don't think of myself as a selfish person, but when life up and humbles you in an instant, you open your eyes and really take a good look at all the many blessings that the Lord has given you. 
Well, that is me lately.  I have been blessed with more then I ever really took a moment to know.  I have an amazing family.  My gris are my heart and soul.  They fill my life with so much love and happiness that I could not ask for more.  I have been blessed with an amazing husband who loves his family.  I live in a beautiful city where there is a park on every corner and you can ride your bike for miles and miles and NEVER cross a street.  I have friends that know me and love me so much.  I have the gospel in my life.  I have an understanding of the plan of Salvation.  I have a Savior that died for me.  I have a fun job that I love going to each day.  I have amazing parents that do what they can whenever they can when the need is there.  I am so blessed to be in a ward that is so kind and loving and giving.  They don't hesitate, they just serve when the time is right.  I have blessings beyond what I ever saw and I am humbled by the love the Lord has shown me.  I have a beautiful temple just down the street from where I live, that I can go to for peace.  Where I can fully open up my heart to the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving. 
I have so much and I am thankful.

A Hair Wrap Giveaway to help me WIN!!!

Hair wrap GIVE A WAY!! Click here for more details...http://ahulllotoffun.blogspot.com/2011/04/helping-one-awesome-family-and-give-way.html

Be Careful What You Wish For....

So as I sit here, I remember yesterday morning.  I woke up at 6:15 AM just like I do every school morning.  I got Madison up and dressed.  Helped her make her lunch, brush teeth, do her had and head out the door.  I dropped Joshlyn off first just like I do every school morning and then off to drop Madison off.  I got home at 8 AM and fed the 3 little girls.  I kissed my husband goodbye, just like I do every day he heads out to the office.  After getting Sutton out of the high chair,I got Jacquelynn and Brooklyn dressed for the day, just like I do every morning.  Then, I turn a movie on for them while I go clean up their room.  It was on that task, the making of Madison's bed where I looked at the wall and said out loud, "I need a serious change in my morning routine".  "I need something different in my day".  Who knew that 3 hours later, my husband would walk in the front door with the most life changing news I have ever received.  I sure had no idea. 

Eddie was laid off from his Job with the Irvine Apartment Communities.  After almost 7 years of loyal service, they let him go.  No warning, just a goodbye. 

So now, here I sit, a mother of 5 girls whose lives are about to turn upside down.  No income.  Just typing that hurts.  I tear up when I stop to think about it too long.  I feel a little lost and a lot confused.  I wonder where this change will take us and how we will survive.  I wonder if Joshlyn will be able to finish high school at Beckman. 

What does our future hold?

I am not a fan of uncertainty.  I need to have stability.

But, with all of the unknown, I am so thankful for the Church.  The welfare program of the church is amazing.  As soon as Eddie called the bishop, help was sent in.  Financial, emotional, we were being taken care of.  The Lords hand was holding our little family and his tender mercies were being given through the members of our little ward.  It amazes me how the Lords work is accomplished through the members of the church.  With all the craziness, I have yet to feel hopeless.  There is so much hope in the gospel.  I am thankful for being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

I need to trust the lord and know that in him I can find peace and comfort. 

$500 Gas Gift Card!!

I am trying to win this $500 gas gift card from Bradsdeals.com.  If you have seen california gas prices, then you can sympathize.  Help me with this card by going here .  "LIKE" my photo.  That's it.  Easy as pie.  Although...how is pie easy?  Anyway.  The photo with the most likes wins.  So hurry....."LIKE" us.

Rabbit Romp

I love me a good gift exchange!!

I Don't Want to Jinx it.......

Eddie and I found an iPad, 1st addition 32 gig for $399.00 yesterday.  It was a fabulous find and we decided to spend the money to have one.  I was second guessing the purchase all night and even into this morning.  Well, when I got back from the morning school drop off, the girls were finishing breakfast when I had the idea to show them the "gift" daddy bought mom.  When Jacquelynn saw the iPad, her eyes lit up like the night sky on the 4th of July.  She wanted to play immediately.  Asking if I had this game and that game.  To be honest, she knew more about the apps then I did.  So I had this idea......they could earn minutes on the iPad by doing "chores" around the house.  Getting dressed (always a fight) earned 1 minute.  Brushing teeth earned 1 minute, picking up toys earned 1 minute, practicing basketball earns 5 minutes, and so on.  Did it work?  Well, I am happy to report that for the first time ever, when I said go brush your teeth, Jacquelynn went right into the bathroom and brushed her teeth.  When I said pick up the toys, she did it with a smile on her face, knowing that with each toy, her minutes on the iPad were increasing.  I hope this lasts, but I may have finally found the answer to my morning headaches.  Thank you Apple!!

Angela

Because I don't get to sleep, I can't let others have that luxury.

I have this weird obsession of taking pictures of people while they are sleeping.  Some I take because the picture is so dang cute, but others......well, I take them because I can.  Let me explain.  My family can fall asleep anywhere.  And I mean anywhere.  I kid you not.  They have been caught sleeping on couches, in cars, on a chair, on the floor, eating dinner, in a high chair, next to the shower, in the closet, at the desk.  The list goes on and on.  It is so not fair.  I am the type of person that never sleeps, but if by some miracle I do, it must be in my bed, with my body pillow, pitch black, not too hot, but not too cold and absolutely NO sounds.  Yeah good luck with that last one living in an apartment community full of obnoxious college students.  Harmonica playing at 1:30 AM!  Are you freaking serious!!!!  Anyway.....so whenever I catch my family sleeping during the day (non sleeping hours) I snap their picture.  I have a nice collection.  My favorite person to catch snoozing is by far Joshlyn.  Oh the collection of mouth open drool shots that I have are priceless.  Her favorite place to sleep is definitely in the car  She passes out cold in the 10 minutes it takes for me to drive from her school to our house.  How is that even possible?!?!?  Anyway, whenever she falls asleep, I pull out my phone and SNAP!  Another addition to my ever growing collection.  The flash sound usually wakes her up mid drool and the fist thing she says it "you suck".  My response is, "you drool".  HAHAHAHA.  I know it is not the nicest thing ever, but it makes me smile.  So, I have decided to share pieces of my collection.  Enjoy.

Daddy and Madison, so precious.

Jacquelynn tuckered out at Disneyland

Asleep on a bar stool

Passed out in the car.

This is how uncle Chris sleeps and watches the kids at the same time.

Madison zonked out

Jacquelynn ate so much she slipped into a coma

Jacquelynn sleeping on the kitchen floor.

I love this precious one of Brooklyn

Another car sleeping keeper.