This is for all the moms....

Dear Santa....

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited their doctor's office more than my own doctor's, and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmas', since had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt, in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year, I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother", because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.

Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in to dry off so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,

MOM

P.S. One more thing ...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

A NEW BLOG!!

As most of you know I am currently going to school for CIT/Graphic Web Design. Computers is always something that I have loved. For awhile I denied my understanding of computers and the drive inside of me to create new things. I have finally realized this is something that is FUN to me. So I decided to make a blog showing the work that I have done. I also enjoy photography. It is really neat when I can link these two together and create a masterpiece (Or at least to me)

After many requests for business cards, Invitations, family portraits, I have decided to start my own company and see where it takes me.

Just thought I would share the blog is www.coatneydesigns.blogspot.com

and my website is: www.coatneydesigns.com (This is work in progress so bear with me)

Where does she come up with this?

One the way to work one morning, I was listening to the radio. They were doing a contest and the winner won Twilight tickets and a Turkey. This is how it went:

Man on the Radio: Congratulations you won. So what are you going to do with your turkey?

The Winner on the radio: "Cook it and eat it."

Man on the radio: Starts to laugh

Audrey: "Well That's a Stupid question!"

Mom: Laughing and trying to say "well yeah you are right that is a stupid question."

I had no idea she was even listening. I laughed so hard. I have no idea where she comes up with this stuff sometimes.

This is for you Jaime

So I have a sister-in-law Jaime. This lady is amazing. Really she is. When I left for school last December I think that Jaime and I were really not all that close; ( You see she was pregnant and sometimes when she is pregnant she can get a little mean. It's okay Jaime say's it all the time. For me I am Miss Sensitive. So you can see how these two don't mix. Love you Jaime!) Anyways, I have been working while we have been home from school. Jaime has taken Audrey everyday that I have to work. She has come to love Audrey like one of her own children. Seriously if I did not know better I could easily think Audrey was one of Jaime's children. Jaime Alreay has 3 children and takes Audrey for long days. She expects nothing back in return. Thats right, she watches Audrey for FREE for me everyday.

Audrey LOVES to go over to Gav's (her cousin) house. It has gotten to the point where I tell Audrey that we are going to Gavin and Jaimes house and she can't get me out of the house fast enough to go over and play. The funny thing is my kid won't let me do her hair now. Really I am not kidding. If it is a day where she knows she is going to Jaimes I get told that I will do her hair wrong and Jaime will do it.

Jaime I want you to know how much I appreciate you. You seriously are amazing. You have a special way with children. I can't express enough what it feels like to go to work and not worry about Audrey. I know that she is in great hands and having fun. Thank-You so much for everything. We really are going to miss you while we are at school. You have been more than a blessing in our lives. Thank-You does not seem like near enough to express our gratitude.


p.s. I want everyone else to know that I really appreciate the help that has been offered as well. I love you all!

And even better!

On Sunday evenings I like to stay up late and veg out watching TV by myself. Anyways this particular night I choose to stay up extra late. (Did I mention I am a night owl) About an hour after I go to bed Audrey gets up. So I put her back to bed. Another hour passes and she is up again so I put her back to bed. Another hour passes and I am finally in a deep sleep. All of a sudden I hear a slide and a big crash. I immediately shoot up out of bed. I immediately think "Oh no someone broke into the house." Dennis is gone so I think OK he is getting them. So I wait and wait and all of a sudden someone is crawling in my room which I really start to freak out. I soon realize that it was Dennis. The big slide and crash I heard was Dennis passing out in the bathroom. He took down the toilet paper holder and had to have been passed out for at least a good minute or more. I say this because It felt like forever in bed at least 6 minutes so it was probably closer to a minute. If I had my camera I would take a picture of his poor nose that got busted up during the fall. I am not sure what he fell on but it is a mean cut. Poor Dennis here he is passed out on the floor and here I am scared to death heart pounding about as fast as it can in bed. I still feel like a horrible wife.


The next morning he still does not feel good. So I go to get him something and I start throwing up. We both layed in bed sick not feeling good. Thank goodness for a great mother-in-law who took care of us and Audrey.

But Wait it gets better...

So on Tuesday I went to the grocery store to pick up a few items. Keep in mind that I do not have a purse or wallet so most things are in my hands or in the cart where a kid would ride. When I was turning the cart to go down another isle everything falls out of the cart. I have a coupon binder ( I will explain later) so needless to say my belongings go everywhere. I am desperately trying to hurry and pick things up when a kid comes over to help. I was a little nervous about him helping. Lets just say his clothing choice and piercings were a little suspicious. However I thank him for the help. By the time I get down to the end of the same isle. (about 1 minute) I realize my cell phone is gone. That darn kid STOLE my phone. At this point I leave my cart and I start into a fast walk almost jog frantically searching the isles looking for the kid. It is a new phone which I did not put the insurance on. Why I don't know I always put insurance on my phone. Anyways, I tell the store what had happened. When I get in the car I start to laugh which quickly turns into tears. Really could this really be happening to me.

So I go over to my sister-in-laws house and tell her the news she just looks at me and starts to laugh. (She was immediately sympathetic afterwards)

The good news: About an hour later the store calls me and shares that some not so good looking kid walked up put the phone on the counter and runs out. I then share the description with them and they say yeah that was him.

The Robber

On Monday the 26th Dennis came home after an early day of work with Audrey. When he got home he noticed the side gate open which is unusual. There is a German Shepard in the back and it is never open. When he went to open the front door it was unlocked which is also unusual. He went upstairs and saw her parents belongings scattered all over the floor. It then hit that we had been robbed. He was not sure if someone was still in the house. So he ran down stairs grabbed a hand gun and went outside to hide behind the truck and called 911. I cant imagine that feeling. I am sure he really wanted to go inside the house. However when you have a 3 year old in your arms it changes things. So I get a call from home saying come home we have been robbed. I immediately called him back and asked the dumb question of "Did they take my computer" of course they did!

It really stinks that they took so many things. It is hard to know that the computer is gone with the pictures, all of the work with the websites are gone, the countless hours of work on the computer, the backup plugged into the back of the computer because I was backing it up on Sunday. They took the camera, all of my purses, my wallet, and actually ran the credit cards.

More than anything the hardest thing to swallow is feeling safe in the house again. When I leave I feel relieved yet worry that I will receive another call saying they broke in again. When I am home alone I am constantly hearing "noises" and on edge. Their is now a security system installed which helps me sleep a little better at night.

I am really excited to go back home to the little bubble of Rexburg. Though I really about Dennis' parents.

This is CRAZY!!!

I have always been interested to learn how the whole couponing thing works. Well now that I have the semester off from school I actually had time to figure it out. It is amazing what you can save I am still blown away. It has almost turned into a game for me. I now have a problem paying full price for something. The picture above was my shopping trip today (can you tell from the laundry in the background?). Here is the break down.

10 Yoplait Yogurt
8 32oz Gatorade
8 boxes chewy granola bars
2 boxes captain crunch cereal
6 boxes Texas Toast
4 boxes brownie mix
12 boxes that's right 12 boxes of spaghetti noodles
6 packages toll house cookies
5 32oz laundry detergent
5 boxes snuggle dryer sheets
5 containers Clorox wipes
4 containers wet ones
2 boxes keebler cookies (NEVER SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT THESE!)
1 box instant oatmeal
3 bags goldfish
64oz Old fashion Oats oatmeal
Log Cabin syrup
5 containers of Soft Soap

TOTAL $273.19

Savings: $209.19

TOTAL OUT OF POCKET: $ 64.00!!!


The guy behind me was blown away! To be honest I was blown away as well. I was also nervous when the cashier told me the total before my coupons. I was wondering if it would really go down like I was thinking and it did!

I am finally doing it....

Well since Audrey is 3 1/2 I can't really use the excuse as baby fat anymore. However I have never lost the baby fat. I have been wanting to since she was born. I would start, give up, start again, and again. However I have finally stuck with dieting and exercising.

I started weight watchers and it works perfect for me. The point system is awesome. I have lost 7 pounds since I have been home and hoping to be down 10 more pounds by the middle of December. I do not have a picture yet. Soon though.

Audrey Starts Preschool

It was a VERY last minute decision to put Audrey into preschool this year. I have been working while we have been home so Audrey goes over to her cousins house to play during the day. I wanted to do something for her. So we enrolled her the day preschool started. Mrs. Patsy Bronson is Audrey's teacher. She is a member of the church and all the children that attend are members which is really nice. Audrey is the youngest child as well as the child with no siblings. It has been good for her. She struggled the first day with sitting and staying with the group. Now however, her teacher was happy to report that Audrey is doing very well and hardly has to remind her to sit. She loves school. I can't believe I have a child in preschool already. Seriously am I that old? Where has the time gone?

One of Audreys favorite things to do.... and Dennis too

As a kid one of Dennis' favorite place to play was at a friends place that had two huge ponds on it with a creek running through as well. Dennis was sharing with me how he would spend hours at the ponds catching frogs. The land was sold and it is now a U-Fish. It is pretty neat to go.



























I honestly think this is one of Audrey's favorite things to do. She loves to fish and gets so excited when we go. Dennis enjoys it as well as I am sure it brings back childhood memories. The land has the two ponds as well as a petting farm. I can't wait to go back again.

When Audrey caught the first fish, she looked in the bucket and said, "Don't worry little fishy I am going to take good care of you." It was priceless.

Dennis turns 27 and I turn 25!

My birthday was on the 9th of August and Dennis' is on the 20th. As a kid I shared a birthday party with my twin sisters. I hated sharing my birthday. My sisters and I are exactly a week shy of a year apart. Now being a parent I can totally understand sharing a birthday. However, I thought once I got older I would not share my birthday anymore. Well... I now share it with Dennis and you know what I LOVE IT!

For our birthdays this year we went to Jens house and watched a movie outside on a huge projector screen with all the snacks and heaters (it was cold). Meanwhile the kids were inside with babysitters having their own party. I wish I would have gotten a picture of the Adult party outside but at least I got the children's pics. It is not the best picture because it is from my phone.

It has been forever.... I know, I know

I can't believe it has taken me this long to post something.... anything. We are in Washington for our off semester of school and will be heading back to the burg in December. Life has been so busy since we have been home. I will be posting like crazy tomorrow to catch us up.

Addicted to say the least!

So I recently got Adobe Photo shop and many other programs for school/work and I really have been addicted ever since. I look at a picture and sometimes a great idea pops into my head. Here is an example. I love the black and white photos with color. It is a good thing this is what my major is so I can make good money one day while it will still feel like playing!

While I love the before on this shot I love the edits. Let me know what you think Mel.

What do you do when you have no school..... go to the Lake!

It was a perfect day to head to the Lake. Audrey was able to go with almost all of her friends. The kids built sand castles, buried each other in the sand, played in the water, had a picnic lunch, and had some great laughs. It was so nice to just relax with my friends and Audrey hang out with her friends. It really was a perfect day.

Yellowstone

We had the opportunity to go to Yellowstone with Heather and Brian on the 18th of July (I know I know a little late). Anyways we were there from 8am to 8pm. It was a busy day full of fishing, sightseeing, and many good laughs. It was a good day.

4TH OF JULY

I always love the 4th of July and this year was no exception. We went down to Idaho Falls and watched the Fireworks. It was so much fun we meet up with the Coopers and the Lindstroms.

This was the first year Audrey did Pop Its and sparklers which she enjoyed. Audrey really liked the fireworks this year. James and Audrey kept running around it was so cute. I am so grateful to have such great friends and family!

Final Print

I thought it would be nice if you got to see the final version. I was happy with the way the photo turned out!

What do you think???

So for my photography class we have to do a poster size picture. I have always wanted a picture of the temple. So I thought this was the perfect opportunity. What do you think honestly. I am still editing and would love some feedback.

Life at the moment

My life right now is crazy! Seriously. This is a normal week. School full time, working 15 hours a week, making time for Audrey, and cleaning the house (Though I have to say Dennis does almost all the laundry, and a ton of housework! thanks babe). I can't wait for this semester to be done. One more month and we are finished with the semester. My mom took Audrey for me for an entire week. I think all the stress was starting to catch up with me. I was starting to feel like a bad mom because I am either at school or work everyday which makes it hard on Audrey and myself honestly. It was a break Dennis and I both desperately needed. I think it is safe to say Audrey needed it too.

I was able to get away for the weekend at my mom's and get recharged. I was also able to spend some one on one time with Audrey. Thank you mom I Know you lost some sanity having a three year old with a big attitude! We really owe you one.

I was able to get some fun shots while I was done there. Just thought I would share some random pictures.

New Blog

I had to create a blog for my custom images class. Go check out some of the shots that I have been able to capture! There is also some photos from heathers engagement shoot!

www.crystalscreativedesigns.blogspot.com

Ghost Town- Bannack, Montana

I have been meaning to post some photos from Bannack. For my Custom Images class we went a preserved Ghost town. I had a blast! Dennis and Audrey were able to go along as well which really made the day. We spent literally all day there. Poor Dennis, Audrey was a little model for everyone which was really cute. Anyways, I will post more photos hopefully tomorrow. I have been having fun editing them.
This shot was taken into a program call HDR. What it does is you take 3 of the exact same shots however you blow one out, a normal shot and a dark shot and it combines the best of all three. I will post more on this as well later. It is amazing the shots that have been created. So fun. I think I have really found what I love to do!

Mother's Day Weekend

For Mother's day we went to Mesa Falls and had a picnic dinner.  I was trying to figure out something to do. I wanted to do something fun and memorable. I had a great day. Church was a little long. Dennis and I accepted the calling of Nursery teachers and Mothers day was our first day which was challenging. I know we will grow to love the calling. Anyways, the falls were really neat. I think it was the closest I have ever gotten to the top of a water fall. see photos below. On the way back to the car we ran into some hikers who told us about some moose. So we drove to the pinic area and sure enough their was some moose. We had Dennis's binoculars so we put the camera up to the binoculars and we were able to get a closer shot of the moose. Thanks Dennis for a fun day! I am so grateful I get to be a mom. Sometimes it is challenging trying to balance everything. Although when Audrey laughs or says something funny it really can lighten the mood. 

FHE

A few weeks ago we went with our friends bowling for FHE. (FHE is Family home evening where we get together one night a week and devote it to our families!) It was so much fun! It was Audrey's first time and she had a blast. it was so cute watching Audrey and James. They could not bowl unless they pushed the ball together. After bowling we played in the game room and ended the night at DQ for some much needed ice cream (or fries :) ) 

Do we really look alike???

People always say, "Oh she looks just like you, or just like her dad." However, a few weeks ago I had to take some photos for a school project and Audrey just had to be in them. I was glancing through photos tonight realizing how much we really do look alike. What do you think?

Happy Early Birthday Audrey!

We Celebrated Audrey's Birthday Earlier this year. I will post more later.