It's About Time...

After many months I have finally decided to update the blog. We have been having lots of fun with Aidan and Calder. Calder arrived on May 18th and was 6 pounds, 10 ounces. We took a walk around the neighborhood the night before he was born and apparently I overdid it because when we got home I began having contractions. It was convenient though because when we left Aidan was asleep in bed and grandpa was able to come over and spend the night with him while Bones and I went to the hospital.






Calder has been a pretty good baby although it is a lot more work taking care of two kids instead of just one. Aidan likes Calder most of the time, as long as Calder does not try to use any of Aidan's precious blankets and doesn't interfere with Aidan's playtime with his daddy. Aidan likes to give the baby kisses and bring him his own blankets so he will stay away from Aidan's blankets.


We blessed Calder a couple of weeks ago and although he cried A LOT that day, at least he managed to stay quiet through the blessing.

To get out of the house this weekend we took a quick trip up to Logan. Aidan loved playing at the park with daddy and Calder enjoyed some quality time outside too (although you can't tell since he cried in the only picture we took of him!).

More Dave

http://www.daveramsey.com/specials/giving-challenge-winner/name/pass-it-on-project/

The Real Reason to Get Out of Debt

I get emails from Dave Ramsey every week and the email this week was too good not to share and so appropriate for the season.

Are You Giving Your Money Away?
Find out the real reason to get out of debt and invest. The Tip
Building wealth isn't about watching your bank account grow, it's about using your wealth to bless others.

Month after month, we send you tips and encouragement to keep you committed to your investing goals. We've explained why you shouldn't invest in single stocks or bonds, and we've talked about how to plan for your child's college expenses and how to make the most of your money once you retire.

But those things, as important as they are, are not the reason you get out of debt, save money, and invest for the future. And you certainly don't build wealth just to see your bank accounts grow.

Invest In True Happiness
Building wealth is all about giving! And while Americans are number-one in the world for charitable giving, statistics show that the more money someone makes, the less they give as a percentage of their income. In fact, people who earn less than $20,000 a year are twice as charitable as those who earn $100,000 a year.

Oddly enough, those higher income earners said they didn't give more because they couldn't afford it. Those folks have fallen for the false idea that in order to have money, they have to hold on to it with a clenched fist, and they're missing out on the blessings that generosity can bring to their lives.

You probably know from your own experience how it feels to meet a need in someone's life, either with your time, your possessions or your money. We are happiest and most fulfilled when we're serving and giving. We're designed that way.

Because Dave's money principles are biblically based, he has always recommended tithing—regularly giving to your church—as the first step to giving. Once giving becomes a habit, you'll see that it makes you less selfish. You'll look for more opportunities to give as you have more money to give.

And, while there is no guarantee that you'll have more money just because you give money away, you will end up with more—sometimes in your pocket and sometimes in your heart. But there will always be more when you handle money God's way!

Here in the Christmas season, there are opportunities to give at every turn. If you haven't experienced the Financial Peace that comes from giving, give it a try this season. Leave $100 for your server one evening, or find five single moms and give them each $500. Take an even bigger leap and give someone $10,000 to go back to school or fulfill their dream of adopting a child. You'll see what a difference it makes in the way you view money.

Ketchup

I am a bit behind on the blogging. I don't have a reason, just being lazy. So, this will be my "ketchup" post about whatever I can remember since last time. This came in the mail for Bones yesterday.


Why Bones needs a coupon for tampons I am not quite sure, but it was very nice of Playtex to think of him for their "special savings only a woman would want".

We planted a tree in our backyard. (We mostly meaning Bones, I just like to take credit for being there. Aidan did help with the digging.) We are not sure if it is already dying or just turning brown for the winter. But it did look nice for a little while.


Aidan has become very interested in hats and continues to love shoes. He will try on any pair he can find. I went to the shoe store with him and he was in heaven. He tried on more shoes than I did.


Molly still loves to sit in her chair and look out the window. Yes, her leg is resting comfortably on the armrest, where else would she put it?


And, the most exciting news, we found out we will be having another baby in May! Our due date is May 22, the day after our anniversary, so we are only a couple of months along.

Ears

Aidan had to get tubes in his ears because he has been getting a ridiculous number of ear infections. Hopefully the tubes will reduce the number of infections and relieve some of Aidan's pain. It was a very short surgery and everything went very well.

Getting ready for surgery (the baby hospital clothes are adorable! But really, babies can pull off just about any look...)

Aidan's angry face when he figured out he was going with the doctor and we were going to the waiting room without him

After surgery when the babies wake up they give them liquid right away since they have to fast before the procedure. The nurse thought Aidan was much younger than he is and gave him a bottle. He was already angry waking up from the anesthesia and he could not figure out what this bottle was supposed to be for. They gave him a sippy cup and then he drank tons of juice but he liked holding onto this strange sippy cup and chewing on the top, even if it was no good for drinking.

Vacation

We got to go to San Diego a few weeks ago with my parents and Bryce for vacation and it was fantastic! We were able to pick up some discount Mexican marijuana

watch a skateboarding bull dog

go to the beach

go to a baseball game

enjoy the view

chase the birds

and try to escape the Mormon Battalion

After all that, it was nice to relax
(reclining on the brick fireplace...totally comfy, right?)

check the cupboards for anything fun

take the long drive home

draw with our chalk

and drive our brand-new car!

My little miracle...

So, a couple of months ago Aidan got water all over my cell phone and it stopped working. Shocking, I know! I have been using my old cell phone in the meantime because I am too cheap to buy a new one, even though the battery in my old one dies quickly because it is well-used and it does not have speaker phone which I like to use a lot for work (also the camera is not very good and the screen is so small, I don't know how I can survive!). My "watered" cell phone had become a toy for Aidan after it's demise. He pulled it out of his toy closet the other day and I thought I would give it another try. Success! It is working again!