5 Years and Counting....

Wow can you believe it has already been 5 years! I can't....

The last 5 years have been amazing. We have moved more times then I want to count, had a beautiful little girl who has filled our life with joy, grown together, and now we are on our new adventure of school. Somedays it's hard to believe I have been blessed with such a great family. Dennis is perfect for me. During the last 5 years we have learned so much about each other.

I had no idea there was a list of traditional wedding gifts that you are suppose to do every year. For 5 years it is wood. It is suppose to mean that wood is strong and long-lasting.

Money has been a little tight over the years. Having a kid right away when you are not our your feet to begin with makes times a little challenging. I have told Dennis all along that I wanted to do something special for our anniversary. I also warned him that I wanted jewelry. I really wanted a band to go under my wedding ring. More than anything I wanted this year to me memorable.

When we left Washington we left our bed behind. We have needed a new bed desperately for quite some time. Our friends told us about this place called Hidden Treasures. We found our mattress set for quite a bit cheaper than we were planning and also found a wooden sleigh bed frame that dennis liked and I loved. We both decided we this would be a great anniversary gift for the two of us. It's perfect! I love it. The funny thing is that it is wood! This was not planned. It is something we will have for a very long time if not forever!

I am currently taking a home interior design class and we have to make window treatments, decorative pillows, and a duvet cover. So when I get these projects done I will post a picture of the finished product I am so excited to decorate our room. I have a great idea. I just hope it goes together like I am hoping!

It was a great anniversary. Well just have to see what the next year brings! Maybe another little bundle of joy!

Were Home

It feels so good to be home again. We are back in Rexburg and all moved in. I love it here! I only wish I could move family closer; then this would be the perfect location. We both started school again this week. It has been a busy few weeks but life should get back to normal by next week, or at least that is what I keep telling myself. I have much to blog about but it will just have to wait. Right now my bed is calling!

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.