WARNING: The food you must feed your kid after removing their tonsils costs more than the surgery itself!

poor fever head

Rhett seems to be recovering quite nicely from his tonsillectomy however I am a little confused about something! The paperwork sent home by the doctor said most of the time people lose 10-15 pounds after having their tonsils out. I think my kids is gaining weight! The doctor said to make sure he has soft foods. Maybe I have been making things too nice for Rhett because ALL he is doing is EATING! He has had lots of the following...


Capri Sun slushes

popsicles

T.V. dinner macaroni and cheese (it is softer than the other kind)

clam chowder in the blender

Trix yogurts


drinkable Danimals


chocolate ice cream melted and stirred into a yummy shake type consistency


scrambled eggs


mashed potatoes with ranch (the best)

lime jello


applesauce


Hawaiian punch


sucked on Ritz crackers.


He still has to try the 4 varieties of pudding I bought!

What do you think? Am I giving it to him too good?

Still wondering about my secretive post?

Here is another peek as to what it might be all about. Is this too good of a clue? I wouldn't know, as I have never owned one before...

It won't be long until I reveal the super duper nice

thing

my BFF's have done for me. Don't feel bad I haven't told you. I haven't even told my husband yet! Or most of my kids!

Gotta go, the prince is calling for more food!

My son...the mastermind.

What...me?

Today on the way to the hospital to get Rhett's tonsils removed, Rhett informs me that his older brother, Nathan, broke the railing on the bunk bed by swinging on it. We have had these bunk beds for over 1o years, they have been great bunk beds. However, after 10 years of swinging on the railing, I am not surprised it finally broke.

Yes dad, we tell them not to swing on the railing ALL the time! ALL the time!

But to no avail, and the metal literally ripped, I guess you could say, and the railing was destroyed. So Rhett tells me that Nathan knew he broke it and pushed the railing back in place so that next time Bo swung on it he could take the blame for it. Ha! (Not "ha" to the fact that Bo would swing on it as that could hurt him, but "Ha" to the fact that Nathan tried to pull one over on me and I found out! I love it! It's great! I live for these moments! Sneaky little stinker heads! Although this kid is a good liar. It scares me a bit because I can't tell.)

So after the surgery I go into the bed room with Nathan and I casually lean on the railing hard enough to make it bend down. I tell Nathan, "oh no! Look what I just did! Dad is going to be so mad at me!" He seems confused. I proceed, "Shoot! He is going to be so mad! How about I just push it back into place and then when Bo swings on it he will get in trouble for it." Nathan agrees. That is a good plan!

Uh huh... gotcha!

Kassidy who is not in on the joke is horrified that I would let Bo take the blame.

I LOVE it when you can catch them in the act. Don't you think that was just too good for words? It does hurt my heart that he lied to me though. Right to my face. I'll be keeping my eagle eyes on that boy!

Oh yeah... about yesterdays post I apologize for annoying you all that way with my secrecy. I will give you a clue as to what it is about. It has to do with the glorious word "unlimited" and the abbreviation GNO.

Oh my gosh! Nu uh...Are you serious? Really? Are you sure? (Repeat 40 times.)

I rarely have anything that I want to keep quiet about. I actually think it is a fault of mine but I want to tell everyone everything! I feel obligated to do so for some reason. But tonight I have been shown an act of love that I just want to hold tightly cupped in my little hands. I just want to treasure it all to myself. Somehow sharing it will let it out and take away from it. Let's just say this for now, I am supported, I am loved, I am thought about, and I'll never sit alone in Babe's Bakery again!

I am a coupon queen loser!

It is my hearts desire to be thrifty, really it is!. When I spend money, I very often think, "my husband had to work so and so many hours for me to buy this," truly I do. So, I really want to get into this coupon mania where these people are saving so much money, even though it looks like it takes hours. But I figure if it can keep me at home then it will be worth it. But I just can't seem to get the hang of it.

Here are my experiences to prove I am having coupon issues-

• Been following blogs that tell you exactly how to save. I go into Walgreen's with one coupon and I was looking for the second coupon I needed that is in some mysterious catalog floating around someplace in the store. I am trying to get free NyQuil that the coupon queen told me I could get. I could never find the mysterious coupon and left spending thirty dollars on non needed items. What? How did that happen? Oh yeah, and I forgot to use the 50 cents register rewards coupon I had! Loser!


• My Veggie tales nativity! Need I say more?


• Today I go into Walmart. I had coupons that were going to make toaster strudels under a dollar a box! Didn't need those strudels but gotta get the good deal. Cashier forgets to use them. I am so nice, (aka: wimpy), I tell her that is okay, I will get them next time. (She would have had to call the manager to undo the transaction.) She told me she wishes all the customers were so understanding. I guess that makes it worth it, but I left paying full price for two toaster boxes of toaster strudels I didn't need! I am bad at this!

I am not going to give up. I am going to start ordering my 6 newspapers every Sunday, ( Lunacy I know!), and if after about three months it isn't working I am going to quit and no longer aspire to my coupon queenship!. I'll keep you updated.

P.S. If I could just get enough blog followers maybe I could put ads on the side of my blog and not have to clip coupons. Who knows how that works? If you are reading my blog sing up as a follower so I know you are out there. That, or start praying for me to have a dream, (like Stephanie Meyers did), so I can write my best seller. I am too busy clipping coupons to come up with my own idea!

Christ for Christmas day 25

Betcha you thought I forgot about this one!

Read from the scriptures Luke 2

LOVE THE SCRIPTURE LUKE 2:11! My friend, Linda, bought this scripture on a plaque during the Christmas bizarre. I have been coveting it the WHOLE time. Next year I am going to go and get one. (that and my veggie tale nativity which I STILL can't find cheap enough, UGH!) The plaque has so much gold glitter all over it. It is gorgeous! I loved the gold glitter. The gold is symbolic of a King to me, I think that is why I love it so much. I mean, truly, it has an unbelievable amount of gold glitter.

So on the plaque and from the Bible it reads:

For unto you is born this day

in the city of David a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord.

I love it. I didn't get it done this year, (having a toddler and a 4 year old, plus the other 4, makes things so crazy, it is hard to get much done at times), but I want to start reading Luke 2 before the unwrapping presents begins. I was actually surprised and sad at how little is said about Christ's birth. I wanted more.

Did you just want to be highlighted on my blog again? I knew it!

Tobin Restoration has struck again!

Not only did they give me a beautiful bathroom, and beautiful new white doors, (which my truly lovely neighbor, Kirsten, just had to come and see, because she knows what new white doors mean to a girl) and a freshly painted hall way, next thing I know...


We receive a Christmas card with a gift card in it! I couldn't believe it! What have we done to deserve such generosity?! Although all my thank you cards to them are late, they are still giving to us! Once again,


THANK YOU SO MUCH!

You are humbling me so terribly much with all your giving. I really am grateful. Truly!



Did I mention that I love my bathroom?
Still?
Just as much as the first time I saw it?
Every time I walk in it?
I love that floor tile!
I love tile!
I think our tile is so beautiful!
Really! I do.
It is a great bathroom.
You guys did a fabulous job!
We are taking good care of it too!
Nothing is broken!

Remember I said the cupboard were made out of real wood and had knots in them? Here is the proof, you can even see through this one! It is our favorite knot. For reals!

Isn't that molding, (if that is what you call it), great?

Who needs toys when you have these?

Each kid received a packet of "Water Marbles" for Christmas. They are a couple of bucks a packet at our local craft store. The awesome Camy introduced me and my friends to them at our cabin trip. I don't have a clue what their real purpose but they feel too cool. They start out super small and you soak them for 6 hours and they become bigger and squishy. I think they are silicone. They are in the kitchen in 4 big bowls and whenever you go in the kitchen you have to feel them for a while. They are cool and somehow therapeutic. I was joking with my friends we need to make a spa treatment out of them. That'd be cool to soak in them like a mud bath or something.

You can hardly see it but Justine made a cute snowman on her thumb out of nail polish all by herself! Super cute!

Finding Christ for Christmas day 24. Did we find Christ for Christmas?

I can't help but think we did!

Justine

Rhett- Still can't read (being tested as to why) so I had to write for him

Nathan

Kassidy

Today I had the kids bare their testimony in writing of Christ. Since one of the ways we strengthen our testimony is by sharing them I thought that would be good. I guess I was expecting this grandiose change in all of us so I feel a little bad that that didn't happen. But I defiantly think I can't take for granted the huge seed I feel I have planted. Actually I think the seed had already been planted and I helped the roots to grow. That feels more right to me. So if the roots can continue to grow I hope they will eventually develop into a strength that can not be torn apart by the world or anything else. That is my prayer and was my goal. I always felt like one thing I wanted my kids to have before they left my home was an earnest testimony and knowledge and love of Christ. We will keep working on it but I believe we did find Christ this year. Everyday in a tiny amount of time we felt the spirit and learned about Him and felt his power. Definitely felt His power, I think. They were sweet moments in an other wise chaotic world.



As for myself and my own testimony, I know i have so much room to grow. But the tender, mostly quiet, moments I had this month with my children, teaching them of what was most importance was grand. I loved it.


I love the Savior. He brings me peace. And joy. And love, and hope. He is my King and my brother. I hope I can honor Him for my journey on earth and stay focused on His light and sharing it and growing it and giving it away. I can't believe what He did for us. I just can't understand it but I am thankful. I hope I will live in a way that shows it.

Enjoy!

Dallin H. Oaks-"At times we may despair that our burdens are too great. When it seems that a tempest is raging in our lives, we may feel abandoned and cry out like the disciples in the storm, 'Master, carest thou not that we perish?' (Mark 4:38). At such times we should remember His reply: 'Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?' (v. 40).

"The healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ--whether it removes our burdens or strengthens us to endure and live with them like the Apostle Paul--is available for every affliction in mortality."

Gordon B. Hinckley-"He whose birth we commemorate this season is more than the symbol of a holiday. He is the Son of God, the Creator of the earth, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, the fulfillment of the Law of Moses, the Redeemer of mankind, the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace. . . .

" 'And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

" 'For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father--

" 'That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.' (D&C 76:22-24)."

"This is our testimony to all mankind. It is our gift and blessing to the world. He is our joy and our salvation, and we will find Christmas of greater meaning in our own lives as we share these truths with others.



Henry B. Eyring-"Jesus Christ is the light and the life of the world. If we do not choose to move toward Him, we will find that we have moved away. . . . Whether or not you choose to keep your covenant to always remember Him, He always remembers you."

Kathleen H. Hughes-"Our families need the peace of God in their lives, and if we can't or won't invite the Lord into our lives, then our families become a reflection of our own turmoil. Women are asked to be nurturers to their families, but we must also be firm; we must be the hard rock footings on which our homes can stand. Our families need us to speak peace to them, just as the Lord speaks peace to us. Our homes need to be places where our families and friends want to be, where all who enter our homes can draw strength and courage to face the challenges of living in an increasingly wicked world. Our children need to hear us 'talk of Christ, . . . rejoice in Christ, [and] preach of Christ' (2 Nephi 25:26) so that they may know to what source they can look for the peace that 'passeth all understanding' (Philippians 4:7)."

Robert D. Hales-"There is nothing that we are enduring that Jesus does not understand, and He waits for us to go to our Heavenly Father in prayer. I testify that if we will be obedient and if we are diligent, our prayers will be answered, our problems will diminish, our fears will dissipate, light will come upon us, the darkness of despair will be dispersed, and we will be close to the Lord and feel of His love and of the comfort of the Holy Ghost. It is my prayer that we can find the faith, courage, and strength to endure to the end so that we may feel the joy of faithfully returning to the arms of our Heavenly Father."


Thanks for following me and my family on the search for Christ this season. I hope you all found Him as well.

Merry Christmas, Friends!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

Love you all and hope you are having a great day!

Will be posting Finding Christ for Christmas Day 25 tommorow!

My hunt for the veggie tales! (Make sure to read my blog in order or you won't appreciate the full nature of my annoyance)

100 bucks on Amazon! Take that coupon Queen!

Okay, Okay, I saw them cheaper on eBay. I'll chill for a few days and try to find a set later. But isn't that maddening! 100 bucks! I had mine for 8! But look how adorable it is! Just look at that baby Jesus! Hold me back!

Finding Christ for Christmas day 23

A few week ago I stumbled a across a you tube video. My favorite Christmas song is, "I heard the bells on Christmas day" so for some reason I was checking it out and came across this awesome different version by a Christan group "Casting Crowns". I have been obsessed with the song. It is so beautiful. You can find it on my face book. So I was checking out a blog on the lady who saves a bazillion dollars couponing, and she said that the Veggie Tale nativity was on sale for only 10 dollars from 20 and if I enter a certain code I could get it for like 9 dollars! Well, What the Chicken! Uhh... Yea! Of course I need a Veggi tale nativity! Don't you? So in my great effort to save money and become a coupon queen it was my duty to order one at such an extremely great price. I know you would do the same. As I ordered it I saw the Christmas CD "Casting Crowns" on sale as well and I had to have that too! (This couponing to save money is working out grande!) Seriously I love the CD and discovered yet another song that just was awesome. So for day 23 I played it for the kids and we talked about how we needed to live our lives so we aren't asleep when Christ comes. I talked with the kid about what that really meant and how America is asleep. We are so worried about acquiring things and status. We are not living pure lives and remembering the basics, which is Christ. So that was our discussion. I told them to live good lives so they can be awake. Awake to the spirit. Below are the words from the song. But it isn't as good unless you listen to it. I would go the the Christian website and order yourself a CD and don't forget the Veggie tale nativity!

(see new happenings at the bottom of this blog!

While you were sleeping:

Oh little town of Bethlehem

looks like another silent night

Above your deep and dreamless sleep

A giant star lights up the sky

And while you are lying in the dark

There shines an everlasting light

For the King has left His thrown

And is sleeping in a manger tonight, tonight

oh Bethlehem,what you have missed while you were sleeping

For God became a man

And stepped into your world today

Oh Bethlehem you will go down in history

As a city with no room for it's King

While you were sleeping while you were sleeping

Mary shivers in the cold

Trying to keep the Savior warm

Born among the animals wrapped in dirty rags

Because there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

United States of America

Looks like another Silent Night

As were sung to sleep by philosophies

That save the trees and kill the children

And while were lying in the dark

Theses a shout heard cross the eastern sky

For the bride groom has returned

And has carried His bride away in the night

America what will we miss while we are sleeping

Will Jesus come again

And leave us slumbering where we lay

America, will we go down in history

as a nation with no room for its king

will we be sleeping will we be sleeping

United state of America

Looks like another silent night

Very sad! Actually LIVID! I just looked on my email to find the web site so you could order a Veggie Tale Nativity and my order has been canceled due to the fact that they are all gone! I am now on the hunt for one, sale or no sale! Darn that coupon Queen!

Finding Christ for Christmsa day 22

Today I taught the kids about Joseph. I LOVE the thought of him! Raising a son who was a God. It is just interesting to think of their lives. The awesome responsibility as parents Mary and Joesph had. What good people they had to have been to be trusted to raise Jesus.

Once again I relied on Michael McClean and you tube with the AWESOME song "I was not His father, He was mine" Really, you have to look these songs up and listen to them. They are incredible.

Looks like we found Santa for Christmas but more importantly...

...did we find find Christ for Christmas? Stay tuned to find out!

P.S. This mall Santa was the funniest Santa alive! He was so layed back and chill. Almost like a surfer dude, but not quite so doofisy. I told the kids that he had to get going to start delivering presents. He all seriously says "No, I'm here to five." So I say, "well, you'll have lots of work to do." He says, "Nah, Rudolph will have the sleigh all loaded." Alrighty then.

Then he starts going into this whole thing about how his wife,(Mrs. Claus), is going to cut him off cookies the day after Christmas because he eats too much Christmas day. Then all matter a factly says, "Last year I made Rudolph go and get me a snickers." It was just a crack up.

P.S.S. Walking through the mall with all six kids is a little embarrassing. We live in a community with large families so you think they'd be use to it but people we were staring. Weird.

P.S.S.S Of course you must have a picture with the baby crying, scared of Santa. It is just a given. She kept screaming, "Ma Ma, Ma Ma" and pointing at me. Sad, but you just gotta do it!

I painted my nails tonight! (Daring color, I know)

It happens about twice a year. Usually when I am going on a scrap book retreat. Tonight it was for Corey's work party. No one notices of course because it is such a simple thing but to me it is a rare occasion. They take so long to dry! I don't know how people get manicures. You can't like touch anything for hours without getting a nick!

When I was a girl my dad HARASSED me about not chewing my nails. I use to feel AWFUL about it, like it was such a personality flaw. I tried to quit, but couldn't, and I really did feel AWFUL about it. (Luv ya, dad!)

One day, after SEVERAL years of marriage I thought to my self,

"self, who gives a darn?!"

It doesn't hurt anyone, I don't care that it doesn't look that great, I actually kind of like it when people have chewed nails, it is sort of cute, and my life saving quote:

"It is what it is!"

So that was the end of that! I don't EVER feel bad about it anymore and I have checked it off my list of things to overcome because who cares? Not me. And I feel just good about it now! Guilt free chewing all I want!

Sing it with me now...." FREEDOM "

What can you check off your list that really doesn't matter that much? Try it, it is nice.

Finding Christ for Christmas Day 21

I am OBSESSED with the cover of the "ENSIGN" this month. It somehow speaks to my soul. I adore it. It is beautiful beyond words. I love how Jesus and Mary and Joseph look. They look so real. Thanks to my computer genius husband for helping me get it on my blog. I for some reason couldn't but he got it to work! Don't you just love the picture?

I read to the kids part of an article of the ENSIGN that I loved. Long but so worth it! If you don't have a subscription to the ENSIGN you can find the full article by googling "LDS.org-church magazines" and it should take you there. One day I will learn how to make a link.
Below is the good stuff I taught the kids tonight!

"A Story of a Prince

An important lesson about condescension is found in Mark Twain’s classic novel The Prince and the Pauper. Twain tells of two boys: Tom Canty, a poor boy who lives in a hovel in London; and Prince Edward of Wales, heir to the throne of England.

Tom has always dreamed what it would be like to be a prince. One day he decides to go to Westminster Palace in hopes of getting a glimpse of Prince Edward. Edward comes out of the gates of the palace and greets the waiting throngs. Tom is so excited that he presses up against the gates and tries to call the prince. The soldiers at the palace roughly push Tom away.

Seeing this, Prince Edward becomes angry with his guard. He tells the soldiers to leave the boy alone and then invites Tom into the palace as his guest. Prince Edward gives Tom a tour of the palace, and then, on a whim, the boys decide to exchange clothing. As they look at each other in the mirror, they realize that they are practically twins. While dressed in each other’s clothing, they step outside. The soldiers grab the pauper (who is really the prince) and throw him outside the gates. Prince Edward yells that he is the prince, but all the gathered people only laugh at him. The soldiers then close the gates. Suddenly the poor boy is the prince in the palace, while the prince is the poor boy in the street. Neither one can convince anyone to believe in the mix-up.

During the months that Prince Edward is outside the palace, he endures many trials. Tom Canty’s father finds him, thinks the prince is his son, takes him home, and beats him. Edward experiences hunger that he’s never known in his palace comfort. He travels throughout England, trying to determine how he can be restored to the throne. As he does so, he witnesses the poverty and oppression of his people, and he sees firsthand the grave injustices of the law. He suffers for months as a homeless pauper, and on one occasion he’s nearly killed.

Through a remarkable series of events, the mix-up is finally resolved, and Prince Edward is restored to the palace. In the meantime he has inherited the throne and become the king of England. King Edward honors Tom Canty for his service as an accidental “prince,” and ever after Edward serves as a merciful, good, and compassionate king, having learned to love his people by his suffering

A Perfect Compassion


We too have a prince who became a pauper. The Prince of Peace, the Prince of Glory, the Lord Jesus Christ came down to live among His people and share in their poverty and suffering so that He might be a more compassionate king. As the Apostle Paul said, “Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

In another letter Paul wrote: “In all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest. …

“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:17–18).

In other words, one of the reasons Christ came to earth was to experience temptation, pain, sorrow, and suffering so that He might be a more compassionate and perfect King. Alma spoke of this in a beautiful sermon to the people of Gideon: “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people … and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy … that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11–12 "

Awesome, huh? I talked with the kids about the story, (love that story by Mark Twain, I am going to have to read it) and about about Christ living among the poor and hungry so he could know how it felt. I talked with the kids about mercy and giving it to other people through forgiveness when they need it. I love the word mercy. It is beautiful. We all need mercy don't we? I do.

Finding Christ for Christmas day 20

At church this year in the foyer as the cutest Christmas tree with names of the the neighbors who live within our ward boundaries. The idea is to grab some names and do an act of service anonymously. It is a great idea. We have done it in years past and the thought of us all out there scrambling to be good to each other thrills my heart.

So we had a few names and we had some goodies to take to the neighbors. Before we left, we started our Family Home Evening with prayer and then I spoke with the kids about Christ. I told them He spent his entire life doing good deeds and serving others. I told them that we don't want to waste too much time on the computer, playing video games or watching TV. That if we are trying to live our lives like Christ we need to be out there serving. It overwhelmed me at what a tall order that is to fill and how far off I am at being that way. I always think when the kids grow up I can't wait to sit around and quilt or scrapbook. So I guess we need to find a healthy balance. Although I think of Mother Teresa and you certainly can't go wrong spending your life in service. I can't wait to go on a service mission someday! (you know if my orphange isn't up and running by then)

The kids were hysterical and ecstatic to try to drop treats off and run before neighbors saw them(only to later remember the neighbors weren't even home that night) . It was good times. Then it was equally exciting to have someone leave treats at our house and run. I love life!

Thanks for the push, Cameron! I needed it. I am not giving up.

Finding Christ for Christmas day 19

Today we watched an animated version of Christ saving Lazarus. It was good. The kids enjoyed it.

It is amazing all that Christ did.

Finding Christ for Christmas day 18

Isaiah Writes of Christ's Birth
Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:67
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14


Isaiah was a prophet of God who prophesied to the people of Israel that the Savior Jesus Christ would be born to a pure and righteous woman. Isaiah said the Savior would be called "Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14), a name which signifies that Jesus would save His people (see Bible Dictionary, "Immanuel," 706). Isaiah also prophesied that Jesus would be called "Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6), and that He would rule over all the earth (see Isaiah 9:7).

Sadly, I must admit, my enthusiasm for the project is waning. I am getting tired.

Finding Christ for Christmas day 17

Today we read the Christmas message from the LDS first presidency from The Friend Magazine.

"The Reason for the Wonder"

The Christmas season is one of the most wonderful
times of the year. However, it is not the gifts, the
trees, the decorations, or the food that make this a
season full of wonder.
It is when we remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus
Christ, that the Christmas season becomes truly special.
As we strive to remember our Savior, our desire
to live like Him will grow. It is no coincidence that
Christmas is the time of the year when people are
the most loving, the most giving, the most kind, and the
most grateful.
As we try to follow Christ’s example this season and
do our best to live as He did, let us find ways to lift up
those around us. Let us celebrate our Savior’s birth by
being followers of Christ in word and deed.
We testify that as we do so, the desire to follow Him
that grows within us at Christmas will continue to develop
throughout the upcoming year. ●

President Thomas S. Monson
President Henry B. Eyring
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

A Christmas message from the First Presidency to the Children of the World

Finding Christ for Christmas day 16

Today we discussed how Jesus never turned away the children, how the parents desperately wanted Jesus to bless their children and he did.

We discussed how we should have faith like a child. I talked with the children about simple faith. We do not always have to have this ginormous knowledge on everything. It is enough to believe like a child does. Just simply. We don't have to have all the answers. Sometimes that just gets too complicated. Faith like a child is enough, says so in the scriptures.

Attention bathroom fixer uppers!

If you are anything like my husband, the last thing you want to read is some crazy girl's enormous blog. So I will make it easy for you. Below are the titles where I discuss my awesome bathroom makeover.

Below are the titles from the beginning:

Sometimes Christmas miracles happen in the bathroom
A moment of silence please
Angels disguised as sweethearts in my house
Guess what we have been doing all night?
Flushing time is quickly approaching
Nice...
Any minute now!
Dear bathroom...

Dear Bathroom, I love you. You are so clean and shiny I can hardly contain myself.

Disclaimer: For whatever crazy reason something in this blog format will NOT keep all my spaces in between words and pictures right. I fixed them even and perfect, post the blog, they turn crazy. So at this point, it is what it is!

The BATHROOM is

Done!

oh wait.... didn't I say it loud enough?

THE BATHROOM

IS DONE,

WA HOOOOOO!!!!!!

It is amazing!

It is fabulous!

It is gorgeous!

It is stylish!

It doesn't leak in the basement!

It flushes!

It doesn't overflow!


It isn't cracked!


It doesn't smell!


IT DOESN'T SMELL!!!! (Did I mention that one already?)


It drains when it is suppose to drain!


It matches!


It is crumbling free! (seriously, the old one was crumbling)


It has water pressure that is unbelievable!


It is done in neutral colors, my fav!


It will always mean something more than just a great new bathroom!


I love it! We love it! The kids are fighting over who gets to "go" first! Suddenly EVERYONE wants to take a shower!

Below are the pictures of the demo.

Tub and vanity in the dump truck! Bo was so into this. We had to go outside and stare at the junk in the back of the truck for a long, little while.





Here is one of the super nice guys who helped fix our bathroom, (this is the guy with the twinkly eyes, I know you can't tell from the side, but it is true. He's definitely sparkly! I like you!)

Gag

Bo and Kate had to be barricaded away from the workers. Bo would sit on the chair and watch what they were doing. If he ever escaped they were always patient with him. At one point he yelled, "How's it going? Guys!" They answered him. Cute.

Nice guy, as well! All of them were nice. I couldn't get over it.

Throwing away the old toilet.


Clint J. painting our awesome new white doors! Tyson was inside painting in the bathroom. He textured, and it looks awesome. It is truly a skill! And trust us, we know, because we did a room in the basement and it was like spraying pancake batter at the wall! Not so good. Tyson and Clint J. were so nice as well, but also, they were the quietest two people I have ever been around. I almost couldn't stand it. I finally had to offer them music. And chocolate... Nope, didn't help.

I would have taken more pictures, but did you know it annoys workers to have their picture taken? Go figure.

So after all their hard work it is time to

UNVEIL

the bathroom!

It was such a truly, great, day! I went to bed that night smiling.

More workers on came on Thursday and this appears on our door! They thought of every detail.

Then we hear a caravan of vehicles pull up and we hear "Merry Christmas, Nielsen's!"

We all rush out the door, little Rhett hurdled all the stairs and made it there first. It was hysterical, them pulling up, us running down! It cracked me up! "Big" Rhett wished us Merry Christmas and, in behalf of all the crew, presented us with a key to our new bathroom!



Love these faces!

FYI, the one who brought in my mail is 5th from the right. Nice kid! I guess I am old because I am referring to him as a kid, but sometimes you just can't find that nice of kids at work these days. Good job, Clint!

After all the family, crew, and two news stations, crammed into our tiny hallway we opened the door and found.....

du nu nu nuh.....

A BATHROOM FULL OF LOVE

We feel such love and gratitude when we look at our bathroom (which we do like 20 times an hour). I think I got the best end of the deal because I was home during the reconstruction and I was able to meet with, and shake hands with, and rub shoulders with, and joke with all of these wonderful people. Their faces are etched in my mind. I loved them for the time they were in my home. Weird I know. But somehow, it is true.

Here are some pictures of us checking it out for the first time.

Bo was excited about the soap dish. The kids were thrilled over the tooth brush holder. It makes me happy that small things make them happy. I think that must be a good sign somehow.

Cute, huh? Kassidy was so excited, when she woke up today she said we need to have rules for the new bathroom. 1)No dirty clothes left in the bathroom! (I'm sorry, I guess I missed something, is that a new rule? 2) Wipe the toilet seat off. (it is unfortunate that that even needs to be a rule, but with three boys...you know how it goes. 3) Keep the shower curtain shut. 4) Keep the toilet lid down. (We have never done that because we always had to watch to make sure the toilet didn't overflow) Is this enough bathroom talk for you all yet? Anyway...

Teaching the kids how to use a different type handle (you know one you don't have to turn on with a wrench? Just joking, we fixed that problem years ago.)

What a stallion!

Kassidy stood in the bathroom after the reveal and, in all honesty, said, "Is this a dream?" Then she proceeded to arrange all of the toilet paper and tooth brushes and things that go in the bathroom. Her own special touches were a magazine on the back of the toilet and a picture of Christ. She also commented how much she loves the neutral colors.

Corey was showing the kids the step stool. I was thrilled with that! I also love that their were no drawers on the side that the kids could stand on. Just one big awesome cupboard inside!

Rhett and Claudine, good friends. Luv you!

Showing off the super deep (GREAT) medicine cabinet mirror.

Rhett is checking out the awesome cupboard above the toilet. We needed storage space so much!

Now that you have seen us check out the bathroom I will let you check out the bathroom!

Awesome drawer!

Awesome shower curtain with real shower curtain hangers that look stylish! I have never had those. I have always just had those stupid, one dollar a box, loops. I despise those.

Love the toilet paper hook thing that holds the toilet paper. Love that you don't have to actually stick the toilet paper through a little white tube that usually gets lost or thrown away by accident (that has happened at least three times). Good location for the toilet paper as well!

The plumber was so thorough. He even thought to raise our shower nossel so it was taller. Great for growing kids. We found out the reason our sink would never drain was because the pipes had shifted and so he fixed that as well as the leak in the basement.

I love tile! I think it is the best.

I love the medicine cabinet mirror. I was really worried over this one because I wanted it to have a frame that looked classy. I love this one. It is totally girly. I also love that it is deep so it can fit more things. Great choice, Hal!



It looks so pretty.

Huge cupboard inside!

Step stool drawer!

Bath mats and everything! I LOVE to death the tile on the ground! I think it is a great choice.

Beautiful towels, I love all the colors.

Doesn't it look great?!!! The cupboards are cool. They are real wood! They have real live knots in them. They smell heavenly. I know, because I smelled them! I love the smell of wood. (Except for when it is in the forest which means I must be camping. Yuck)

The next day they came and cleaned our carpets. That was awesome! Our house looks great!

The great lady who helped clean the carpets had to manover our couch. When I came back in the room the pillows looked like this! Perfection!

Speaking of the couch, Isn't it great? My generous friend Terri gave it to me when she got new ones. Thanks! It is ULTRA comfortable to lounge on.

Here are some of the great people who helped!

The electrition! He is a great "atttic crawler inner"! He had to crawl in our crazy attic and pound a hole through our older tar roof (that is apparently under our newer roof) and give us a ceiling fan.

A monstrous thanks to the business that participated...

Darrel's Plumbing

Stapleton Flooring

Foster's Tile

Merrill Woodworking

Design Gallery

Richard's Electric

Bennett's Paint

BMC West

Robert's Home Decorating

and of course,

Tobin Cleaning and Restoration

You have our deepest thanks. From the bottom of our hearts we appreciate you and your work. Thank you for making our lives better. Most importantly, thank you for being an example to my children of giving. I think they will always remember how this felt. I just really believe they will grow up to be the kind of people who will "pay it forward", impart, because of this tremendous experience. That is the biggest gift to me. Thank you.

We ended up being on two news stations as well, so the kids LOVED that!