This looks like such a fun tradition to start. Here is the original post http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2011/12/mini-van-express-tickets.htm
You put the kids to bed like any other day but but when they go to their rooms they will find a golden ( or whatever ticket ) on their pillow with instructions to put on their slippers and head to the truck. There they will find popcorn and hot chocolate. They will need to get their ticket punched before entering of course and we might even pick up a few passenger on the way. On the way to where you say? Well we will be on our way to see Christmas lights and maybe Santa Claus assuming that she isn't terrified of him this year....I think that sounds fun what do you think? Any fun traditions your family does?
Brandon Family
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Ribbon Cutting!! 3 Year Anniversery
Yeah we finally cut the ribbon to our house. November 1st 2012 the day we cut the ribbon to our new home, in our old backyard. It feels like we finally get to come home. November 1st is now a bitter sweet day for us. We have not moved in yet but that post is for another day. There might be pictures to come im usually the one behind the camera but I was a little busy that night so I have to rely on others to help me remember this moment.
November 1st 2012 was also the 3 year anniversary of Nate's accident I cannot believe it has been three years. Some days it feels like yesterday I can still remember sitting on the computer playing that chef game on Facebook when I got the call from Nate's friend telling me that Nate had been life flighted ( is that a word) to the University of Utah. Nothing mattered after that I got on the phone called my parents to take Ashlyn. I called Nate's parents and told them to come pick me up because we were headed to the hospital. That was the longest drive ever, I could have swore that we were only going 3 mph. But we finally made it up there and got to see Nate before we went into surgery. #longestdayofmylife!
This might sound like a cliche and just something people say in bad times but I truly believe that God has a plan for us we may not agree with him at the moment we may even curse God and say why me, but there is a wonderful plan for us. If you look back on your life can't you see how things fell into place and the lessons you learned along the way? I know I can. You are where you are meant to be. The what ifs and the shoulda coulda woulda's don't mean anything.
These last 3 years has brought me closer to my heavenly father. It has made me trust my heavenly fathers judgement and his timing. And it has giving me a wonderful testimony about prayer, I always believe he was there listening to me but now I can say that I know he is there listening to me. The day after Nate's accident I was a wreck no sleep, we had just heard that he was probably paralyzed, he had more surgeries to do just a complete mess. I'll never forget the blessing I got that day about having comfort and the strength to cope with everything and the second those words were said instantly I felt this rush of calmness and comfort that I believe is the only reason I have not completely lost it. I have never felt anything like it. Some days I would trade this experience to have a normal like, of course some days I wish it was normal, but I never would have found some of this inner strength I never knew I had. I'm sure Nate has a completely different outlook on this whole experience!
Well I better get to bed I have to get up in a few hours 4 to be exact for our annual chair bound hunters pheasant hunt. Pictures to come.
Here are a few quotes that I love! Hopefully they will brighten your day!
“The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served.” President Gordon B. Hinckley
Never think that what you have to offer is insignificant, there will always be someone out the that needs what you have to give.
Ask yourself, 'How did God bless me today?' If you do that long enough and with faith, you will find yourself remembering blessings. And sometimes, you will have gifts brought to your mind which you failed to notice during the day, but which you will then know were a touch of God’s hand in your life.” –Henry B. Eyring
November 1st 2012 was also the 3 year anniversary of Nate's accident I cannot believe it has been three years. Some days it feels like yesterday I can still remember sitting on the computer playing that chef game on Facebook when I got the call from Nate's friend telling me that Nate had been life flighted ( is that a word) to the University of Utah. Nothing mattered after that I got on the phone called my parents to take Ashlyn. I called Nate's parents and told them to come pick me up because we were headed to the hospital. That was the longest drive ever, I could have swore that we were only going 3 mph. But we finally made it up there and got to see Nate before we went into surgery. #longestdayofmylife!
This might sound like a cliche and just something people say in bad times but I truly believe that God has a plan for us we may not agree with him at the moment we may even curse God and say why me, but there is a wonderful plan for us. If you look back on your life can't you see how things fell into place and the lessons you learned along the way? I know I can. You are where you are meant to be. The what ifs and the shoulda coulda woulda's don't mean anything.
These last 3 years has brought me closer to my heavenly father. It has made me trust my heavenly fathers judgement and his timing. And it has giving me a wonderful testimony about prayer, I always believe he was there listening to me but now I can say that I know he is there listening to me. The day after Nate's accident I was a wreck no sleep, we had just heard that he was probably paralyzed, he had more surgeries to do just a complete mess. I'll never forget the blessing I got that day about having comfort and the strength to cope with everything and the second those words were said instantly I felt this rush of calmness and comfort that I believe is the only reason I have not completely lost it. I have never felt anything like it. Some days I would trade this experience to have a normal like, of course some days I wish it was normal, but I never would have found some of this inner strength I never knew I had. I'm sure Nate has a completely different outlook on this whole experience!
Well I better get to bed I have to get up in a few hours 4 to be exact for our annual chair bound hunters pheasant hunt. Pictures to come.
Here are a few quotes that I love! Hopefully they will brighten your day!
“The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served.” President Gordon B. Hinckley
Never think that what you have to offer is insignificant, there will always be someone out the that needs what you have to give.
Ask yourself, 'How did God bless me today?' If you do that long enough and with faith, you will find yourself remembering blessings. And sometimes, you will have gifts brought to your mind which you failed to notice during the day, but which you will then know were a touch of God’s hand in your life.” –Henry B. Eyring
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
wow its been a lot time!! Life has run away from me. We have been building a new house in PG with Habitat for Humanity and when I say WE have been building I mean Me and some volunteers. I wish that everyone could have a chance to build their house it has been an incredible experience. I have gained a new confidence and how many of you can say that you have built a house. I'm way late on posting this you you can't follow the process but I will post some pictures and you'll just have to pretend these were weeks in advanced so here we go:
I have more pictures on my phone and when I figure out how to post them you will be able to see them. :)
This is a sample of what our cabinets will look like
This is my Provo ward ( the one I will be leaving ). I am so blessed to have them they have come a couple times to help out. I am leaving them and they are still willing to help me out. They even came to me when they found out and wanted to know what they could do to help I didn't say anything to them.
This guy on the left is my cousin and the company (Xactware) he works for came for three days in a row. in that time they put up all the outside walls I was so impressed!!
Below is the first wall going up it took everyone there to try and lift that thing. It is the length of three bedrooms. Also from Xactware
These last four our from my parents ward. I only got to take pictures of this one build but this ward has been numerous times as well. I will always be grateful for this ward its where I grew up. They will always be special to me.
This is me building my bedroom wall..
Front of my house
This is our old house ( before nate got hurt ), its really cool to be building in our own back yard. But in order to get a road up to our house we have to cut off some of the garage which sucks but I think it will be ok. The poor renter probably feels so redneck because not only is her garage torn off but now so is her drive way.
I have more pictures on my phone and when I figure out how to post them you will be able to see them. :)
This is the color of our siding and the bottom is the roof color.
This is a sample of what our cabinets will look like
The Hole
This was at our ground breaking we are the 50th house that the Utah County Branch has done so we get cake!Above is our new dog he is about 6mo old in this picture. Well I'm guessing that he thought that little cement wall was gonna be the same on both sides...boy was he wrong. Doesn't he look so sad down there?
These guys are amazing they are with Bike to Build and they ride their pedal bikes across the country making stops along the way to build houses. I had the wonderful opportunity to make them a very Nummy dinner and Ashlyn fell in love with one of the girls and would not leave her side!This is my Provo ward ( the one I will be leaving ). I am so blessed to have them they have come a couple times to help out. I am leaving them and they are still willing to help me out. They even came to me when they found out and wanted to know what they could do to help I didn't say anything to them.
This guy on the left is my cousin and the company (Xactware) he works for came for three days in a row. in that time they put up all the outside walls I was so impressed!!
Below is the first wall going up it took everyone there to try and lift that thing. It is the length of three bedrooms. Also from Xactware
These last four our from my parents ward. I only got to take pictures of this one build but this ward has been numerous times as well. I will always be grateful for this ward its where I grew up. They will always be special to me.
This is me building my bedroom wall..
These two were for my family build day that I set up. We put up some of the siding. It was alot of fun watching them use nail guns and get on scaffolding etc. Love them!!
Grandma Kelly testing out Ashlyn's new slide |
This is the view from my roof. yes I even got on the roof and put up the shingles and let me tell you I was glad when that last one got nailed down!! It was so hot up there it melt the sole of my shoe!!
This is our old house ( before nate got hurt ), its really cool to be building in our own back yard. But in order to get a road up to our house we have to cut off some of the garage which sucks but I think it will be ok. The poor renter probably feels so redneck because not only is her garage torn off but now so is her drive way.
Well I think vivnt is here today! This company is amazing I think they have built half the house themselves. They have a whole department that looks for service projects to help out the community. Them even went down and helped with hurican Katrina a few years back. Awesome company!!
We just finished the sheet rock on Monday. It looks so much better with the texture on it. I am so excited to paint I can't even stand it!! The picture on the right is Ashlyn in her room.
OK I think that I have done an over load so I will break here and be back another day
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Time Outs
I am in need of some help managing my daughter she has crazy out burst totally dramatic its driving me crazy!! I bought a small box and some puffy balls so that everytime she did something good she got to put a ball in the box. When the box was full she would get a treat. This worked great until i slacked off and she started getting treats whenever. Her new favorite thing is to go to the gas station and put quarters into those sticker machines and get a sticker, so maybe when she fills the box she can get a quarter. I even thought about letting her pull out a fun activity when she filled the box. Any thoughts suggestions?
I am also trying to figure out time outs. I saw this on pinterest that made me think differently about time outs. This lady made theses glitter jars that she gave her kids when they went to time out. When the glitter settles the child is calm and time out is over. My wonder is what exactly is the purpose of time out? To punish? To relax? To have the child think about their behavior? here sis the website if you want to read her post. http://crazyblessedlife.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/relax-bottletime-out-timer/
I am also trying to figure out time outs. I saw this on pinterest that made me think differently about time outs. This lady made theses glitter jars that she gave her kids when they went to time out. When the glitter settles the child is calm and time out is over. My wonder is what exactly is the purpose of time out? To punish? To relax? To have the child think about their behavior? here sis the website if you want to read her post. http://crazyblessedlife.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/relax-bottletime-out-timer/
Way to long
Its been way to long!! I have a couple posts in edit that never got finished! Story of my life! I always start out really strong then fizzle out. Lot of things have been going on since my last post. My little monster aka Ashlyn turned three which is so much better than 2 but she is still crazy out of control and one day I might be able to rope her in. I might have to start reading some parenting books and sticking to discipline. Nate Got a vehicle modified so that he can drive!! Happy day for me!! Video to come eventually. We have joined with Habitat for humanity to build us a home that is accessible for Nate. Yeah!!!
So it has been super crazy around here lately but we are pulling through and I will try to be better at posting in the future
Kendall
So it has been super crazy around here lately but we are pulling through and I will try to be better at posting in the future
Kendall
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Kristina Curtis Photography: give away!
Kristina Curtis Photography: give away!
I love her photos and she giving away a free session! Hurry to her blog and become a fan!
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