Time for a Random Post

Thanksgiving break was way too short but memorable and worthwhile.
Loved how most of the family pics turned out and am chomping at the bit to get them.
Just read a friend's potty training blog posts and am determined to attack this challenge head on. ( She did a timer for every 40 minutes, read on the potty, diapers only at night, m&m reward...)
Can't for the life of me decide what to get people for Christmas, not even Owen....
Been wondering if inhaling spray paint and glue for five months is really as bad as they say...
Seem to be accepting the crappy work/school routine we have and counting my blessings more.
Can't understand why the ward Christmas party got dumped on me a week before hand...
Going through a "reading spurt." Can't get enough of random LDS romance books, which I know some people think are so cheesy, but I really like the spiritual stuff woven into the star crossed love life :)
Need. More. Recipe. Ideas. Will. Not. Eat. Lasagna. Again.
Seriously torn between the ease of putting long hair in a pony tail and the refreshing A-line cut.
Wanting to make our own nativity scene, seeing as how we don't have one.
Love Kortney's blog. Actually ALL my sister's blogs, wish they would post every day, but then I would have to too and we all know that that is a laugh.
The End.

5 Random thoughts on the brain

1. I just spent the last 15 minutes searching Mickelle's blog because I swear there is a picture of Revan that flashed in my mind when I saw a smiley picture I took of Owen yesterday. Can't find it but I really see the Wilson gene in them. Random, remember.

2. I haven't posted much about the last 6 months because I am not really an open person, especially on a blog, but sometimes its good to get it off one's chest and my journal is packed away somewhere. But can I just say, I really hated living in a stinky old house in the boonies with an old lady. Yes, it was my idea but lets just say I about cry whenever I think about it. It has been so much better hanging at mom and dad's for the last few weeks. way nice. But, we are ready for our own space and I am so greatful that Heavenly Father has helped us know what to do next. Kent wasn't going to attend CWI until the fall but I just started thinking and making calls and now we are going to Caldwell early and I just know He has had a hand in all our decision making. So I just want to say that all of us have our trials and the light IS at the end of the tunnel. I am still scared that things could fall apart any minute but I am trying hard to have more FAITH. And I am really proud of Kent and his willingness to go back to school for nursing. It won't be easy but we feel it will be worth it.

3. Most of the time I don't notice it because I am with him every day but, Owen is growing up! Last night we were at the restaurant and Owen sat in a booster chair (which I was bugged about because I didn't want him climbing on the table and hanging on me) and he was so good. Kent gave him a crayon and showed him how to color and he did that off and on and didn't loose interest. He sat still and ate rolls and french fries. At the end he peeked over the edge and smiled at some other kids. He didn't fuss once. It was so so cute; he looked so grown up.

4. Kent has a low tolerance for crying and sometimes Owen drives him crazy but I have noticed thier special bond more and more. Owen always wants to go see or sit by Kent when he is studying or reloading. Owen and Kent have a special handshake. They high five, then pound it, then touch finger-to-finger (like ET). It is adorable. And this last month Owen has let Kent cuddle him to sleep. SO adorable.

5. I am going to make a really, really big effort to go to the Wilson reunion this year. I love glimpsing everyone's lives through blogs but I want to see all the cousins and aunts in person. SO. Doesn't everyone else want to make a pact with me to try really hard and attend? :)

What I've been up to!

One of the few posts that doesn't center around Owen (can you believe it??). Although tomorrow is his nine month mark and I've got some adorable pictures!!!

Kelsey and I picked out some fabric and ribbons to make these baby shower gifts for some friends having girls! Really easy diaper and wipe bags and then we used the scraps to make a taggie toy! These are perfect to keep your diaper bag oraganized and grab what you need when at church or on the go. Each set cost only $5 to make! Sweet! I just pulled the construction from a bag I already had! Turned out pretty good, eh Kelsey?!

Made some boy ones with Kayla yesterday, so fun!!

Okay, I have always loved reading but have been out of it for a while with a child and school work. Earlier this year I read Suzanne Collins books --Hunger Games and Catching Fire (maybe you can review those Kels!) Recently, though I have loved Shannon Hale's books!! Especially, Book of a Thousand Days. She is LDS which lends to clean, fun books but they also fall under the category of Fantasy. I never really got into Harry Potter or the goblins and wizards, but this fantasy is different. Here is what Shannon herself has to say, "As a reader, I've never been very interested in the kind of magic where someone waves a wand, leaving me ignorant of why it works or how it's done. As a writer, it was important to me to create a magic system that I believed might be possible and that I could get inside of and understand." (Just read the books!)

One of her adult fiction books is not fantasy but very everyday told in a fascinating way. Really makes you think and appreciate life! Another thing I love about her books is the perfect and satisfying endings! Then I read an interview where she said, " I think I can write books that both kids and adults enjoy. I've been told my style of narrative moves the story along and makes it easy to keep reading. I love trying to find just the right words, just the right way to say something. Endings are very important to me, and I hope I make satisfying ones. "

I love Albertson's now that I have learned the key to shopping there from the Krazy Coupon Lady. Every other week the store has a big promo which usually involves buying a certain dollar amount of select products and receiving money back for your next purchase. So sale plus promo plus coupons plus double your coupons equals $37 saved! All for $9!!

Then June is dairy month--buy five items and recieve $5 back so a savings of a $1 off every item plus coupon discounts!! All for $3.50!!

And then Walgreens has awesome deals one of which is buy the item then get a money coupon for the exact amount you paid (to use on anything) making the product free! For example, the contact solution was on sale for 7.49 each and I had a $2 coupon off so I paid 5. 49 and got a money coupon for $7.50 actually making money off each and getting it free! Register rewards gotta love 'em (Last month I got free shampoo, shave gel and toilet paper!)

Yesterday

I made a fantastic cake! The recipe is here. I substituted milk and lemon juice for the buttermilk and I did the freezer trick.
Jeans! Owen looks like a toddler (but he still has the needs of a baby), he is growing way too fast.

Kelsey, I found this in my old sketchbook. . . FHE? See! We were friends even then! ;)

My garden already grew, with a jade plant, aloe vera plant and a desert rose!

Yea for you, I'm going to share my random stories and online "window" shopping ;)

My own little container garden! With succulents (kinda like cactus) you don't have to have alot of light or water. They come in alot of designs, I'm starting out with some basics that hopefully I can get to grow. One day I will have a succulent garden like this one. . .

And I really, really want a herb garden this spring--basil, chives, lemon grass, rosemary. . .

As we women know bargains make us happy and proud, so here I am sharing with you my kelly green crocodile wallet that I got for 5.97!

Can I share a very sad/funny story? About my driver's license. The picture. It is very scary.

This is me 12 days before Owen's birth. My nose is swollen. My cheeks are swollen. And my lips are swollen so as to cover my teeth when I smile and make me look like a gummer. Ever time I look at this picture, I get scared. Oh well, it was worth it.

On to my window shopping.

These are my needs. A convertible car seat. (Rear-facing and forward-facing.) I think I'll go with the sand Recaro seat. But I can dream about the Combi Carrot Cake carseat that is stylish and compact, can't I? We need a dresser. These vintage refinished dressers are awesome at From the Vintage Farm in Pocatello. Seriously, have you priced all-wood dressers? Insane! These, though are under a 100! Yeah, our plywood WalMart one died.

These items are my wants. I am very grateful for all that I have. But a girl can get a little excited over color and summer, can't she? These modest swimsuits from Lime Ricki are too cute! And I have had my eye on these dangly earrings from Maurices for awhile now :)

That's it, the end.

Happenings.

I hate giving talks in church, but I really like my topic of the home as a refuge. I am using some great quotes from Elder Bednar and a BYU devotional talk. Check it out here and here. It's worth it!

Warning! Story about baby poop.

I have started to panic every morning when I hear the tell-tall sounds of Owen filling his diaper. Because I know I am in for an immediate mess! Just the other day I grabbed him from the couch to hurry and change him before he got a poopy back. Well this one was out the front and the sides, so I just hauled him to the tub and changed him in there, rinsed his clothes off and himself.
I think he finds it entertainibg to be hauled off and layed in the tub, but I am not happy with all the dirty clothes!

Here is Kent with his favorite past-time of coyote hunting. He tries to get outside whenever he can. He tells me hunting is our food storage, so he has to get out and practice. (No I would never ever eat disgusting coyote, but we have eaten rabbit, grouse, antelope and deer.)
This is Owen's "I just woke up" face, so no I'm not going to smile.
Finally, I completed my home beautification project. Remember that hike I talked about back when I was six months pregnant? Well I enlarged the pictures from that Palisades hike and modge podged them to canvases for personable wall art!

Now I just need plants around the tv stand to add more texture!

Happy ONE Year Blogiversary to Me!

My very first post has been fulfilled! I blog about my wiggly, happy baby, Owen. We have applied to three nursing schools. I am in the final stretch of MT training. I faithfully check Kelsey and Lance's blog to get updates on Jaeger. Finally, all my sisters are doing great.

I've blogged alot more since Owen's birth and I stay at home. It has been way fun to hear from family and friends that blog. Yeah for life and technology :)

Today's Musings

Yeah! for the Bell family and the birth of Wyatt Craig, I can't wait to hear all about it!!

My baby is the cutest thing I have ever seen, he smiles at anything and everyone.

Good luck to my mom, who will interview for a job at BYU-I tomorrow.

Check out Kayla's blog--kaylaandaaronstewart.blogspot.com

Beg Kelsey for her fabulous Cajun Chicken Fettuccine recipe! But be prepared for SPICEY!

Umm, -14 degrees in Rexburg, Idaho this morning.

I watched my first episode of The Biggest Loser yesterday and it was so interesting!

I am actually making progress now in my MT training! Pat on the back.

Kent only has four more days of school left!

Tons of holiday pictures to come, including the Andes wreath! wink, wink!