October {first half}

{1st} Tentatively making Monday's my ironing day.  I take an hour & get the boys busy playing or watching a show {or use Grayson's preschool time while Bex has quiet time} and turn my phone onto conference talks and iron away.  It has been amazing!  Today I received some much needed inspiration:
-Give up meaningless books--not enough time to waste on less than stellar literature
-Keep learning & growing
-We really have gained a testimony or learned a doctrine or principle when we can teach it so a child can understand.
-Strengthen ourselves both physcially and mentally to pull life's "hand-carts."
-Jesus wept.  He loves us and weeps with us every time we're suffering.
-Never turn away from Him.  He feels compassion for our sorrows and pain.
-Give Him the things I'm struggling with; they can be overcome.  He felt and atoned for us in part, so that He would know how to comfort us.  WOW!
-As women:
--Care for each other
--Cherish & watch over each other
--Teach/be taught by each other
--Sit down together with God and His word
-We are often prompted to help when it's not convenient or seems unpleasant.  Go & help ANYWAY.
-Be in tune and always looking for opportunities to serve.
-If it seems as if we are not needed, remember we honor the Good Samaritan as much for what he did not do, as for what he did.  He did not pass by or wait to be asked.

For FHE we learned about Samuel the Lamanite.  The boys LOVED it and got to act it out.  They each took turns playing Samuel and shooting the marshmallow arrows.  We talked about the fact that God protects those who honor Him {which is much like the scripture in Samuel 2:30}.  I don't think they'll forget about him anytime soon.

Sometimes they like each other & share Gray's bed.

Found my all time favorite homemade ice cream recipe {we use our Cuisinart maker}:
-1 can sweetened condensed milk
-1 can evaporated milk
-1 qt. heavy cream or half and half
-1/2 c. sugar
-2 tsp. vanilla
Mix all ingredients well.  At this point you can add any other flavorings you desire- chocolate, fruits, etc. {I don't add anything}.
Put in freezer bowl & make according to your directions.
When done {mine takes 30-40 minutes}, pour into freezer safe bowl with lid & let harden.  YUM!

{3rd} Lance & Kels invited me and the boys for a hayride & pumpkin picking at the farm garden.  The boys thought it was a pretty fantastic night & we appreciate them including us.  They picked out great pumpkins {Lance sent us home with plenty to decorate our porch}, rode the hay wagon behind the 4-wheeler, played with Jaeger, held Winston, and had a great time!

Started using lavender on the boys each night & calling it magic sleep potion.  First night-20 minutes & they were both out.  I may be a believer.

 {4-5th} Business meetings together + great trainings.  Lots of phone calls with clients & other business associates, always.

Chelsey's horse was going to have to be put down and I knew it was going to be a traumatic experience for her since she loves her animals so much.  We put together a little gift for her & hugged her super hard. 

Zac & the boys had a night at Cleaver's while I was at a meeting.  They had a bonfire & roasted marshmallows {I'm totally digging Bex's outfit}, played with cousins, and loved the time with Daddy.

{6th-7th} Conference weekend is always a favorite.  The guys had some down time, enjoyed priesthood session, we had art projects going while listening and Zac and I got a nap in between sessions while Grayson entertained himself.  So many needed and great messages.

 

 Took family pictures that night-feeling totally un-picture-esque, but Zac always makes the most of it {even though he's not really a fan either} and that makes it easier for me.  The boys were great & there were some fun pics.

Celebrated Doll's birthday.  Love that girl so much!  The boys adore her and loved helping her blow out candles and open presents.  She's kinda like my little twin in so many ways.   So grateful she was born and that she's always been my little doll. 

Had fun with a lot of the Cleaver crew, too.  Love this family and that the kids play so well together.  It's always extremely laid back and everyone is patient with the kids and each other.  We mostly just veg and talk and I LOVE that.  

{12th} When we got home from McCall {deets in next post}, we had a busy busy day.  We went to the Boise Temple open house with my entire family which was such a special experience.  The boys were very excited about going in the temple and really did well.  Beckham was a bit loud, but loved it, and Grayson kept commenting on how beautiful and special everything was.  I could feel the spirit while there and I know the kids could, too.  So fun to be there all together.  Afterward, we ate a yummy dinner at Cafe Rio.  Yum!

T&T took our kids home to bed so that Zac and I could go with his mom & Lou to the Haunted World.  I'm not sure how I got talked into going again, but I did.  It was much more fun having Lou there because I held onto him with one arm & Zac with the other {till he ran ahead of us!} and then Spencer & Layne caught up with us {they work security there} and I grabbed Layne with my other arm and he would give me a heads up on what was coming.  MUCH better than last year for that purpose.  I am a big scaredy cat!  All in all it was an okay experience, but it's still just not something I'd pick to do for fun. (;  Zac loves it and is giddy throughout it, so it's more fun to watch and listen to him laughing than anything else. And, I love that he is so insistent on me doing stuff like that with him.  He'd rather be with me than anyone else-hands down & all the time-and that is a pretty cool feeling. 

{13th} I threw a baby shower brunch for Jen with two of her other friends, so we had that going all morning.  Landon is doing better & better each day-still in the NICU, but making progress.  Such a sweet boy.

 

Celebrated Jaeger turning 3!  Kels did a darling job on his Lego themed party.  The boys loved every minute.  We didn't stay too long because we had a baptism to attend, but what we stayed for was very liked.  Zac & Lou went on a man date for sushi that night.

{15-16th} Had a training & Taylor watched the boys till Zac could get home to grab them.  I love my health coaching friends.  They are such valuable influences in my life.  Pip {Tony & Brenda's son} gave me a quick ride on his new scooter which was fun.  After the training Jared & Carly followed me to Walmart and we chatted while I got groceries.  I love T&B's kids.  They are seriously like cousins to us.  Such sweeties.

 We get some cool weather here.  Love where we live.

A clean office space is a happy office space.

Beckham is a generally happy little guy, but he can throw a mean fit.  One thing he does not like is having his blanket washed.  This day it was really making him mad.  He was climbing the washer and screaming his head off-sobbing like I'd just cut off his arm.  It was quite traumatic! (:

 

After work, work.  Business strategics, planning, phone ordering, etc.