Before and After Haircut

Haircut for Zachariah

Zac has been trying to grow out his hair, but he just comes to a moment where he can't do it anymore...so here is his moment. He decided to let Alexander try out his hair cutting abilities. After a few moments and hair getting all over him Alexander decided he rather watch TV and ran off. Yes, Mommy had to finish the job...and then Zac took over. I guess you could call this hair cut a family affair, we should have done it on Monday night for Family Home Evening. :)

I GOT A JOB!

So most of you know I have been out of work since January 2009 when the company I was with downsized, like most companies in America. It was a hidden blessing as I have been able to be a stay at home Mom with Alexander. In some ways I think it helped Zac fall in love with me :) The opportunity to be home with Alexander helped me at times that were difficult and gave me a new understanding of what Mothers do to sacrifice for their children. I have experienced the "best of times, the worst of times" and I am forever grateful that I have had so much time with Alexander as I think we both have learned so much.

However, the challenges that have come into our lives with having only one of us work while we have two mortgages have been difficult. I never gave up looking for a job but after a year of looking, interviewing, and seeing no results I was about to give up. About five months ago Aaron's (my brother-in-law) father mentioned that he knew of available position at his work. I applied with his encouragement and things started rolling from there. The Lord really does work in mysterious ways as the job I applied for closed and two weeks later I received a call telling me that they had another position available and would like to know if I was interested. I said, sure it sounded like a better job with better hours anyways. Then about three weeks go by and I received a call to come interview. I went into the interview and was out of the interview in 17 minutes. It was a good interview but it was the fastest interview I have ever had and with my experience I thought, "okay I didn't get the job". Well I must have said something right as I received another call about two weeks later informing we that they had a job available in HR and would like to move my application in for that job position. I was so excited, this was a better job. Slowly things started moving forward and the process started. I have been waiting five long months...and quite a few moments along the way that made me think, "is this worth it?" I am happy to say today I received a call letting me know that I was hired!

Now, I have never been told that I am not to tell people who I am working for but the process along the way was pretty crazy so I am not going to mention it. Let's just say....I am soooooo EXCITED. It might be a boring HR desk job, I don't know...but I know this. I have never been so happy to start working. Besides, as much as I love my little Alexander, and I do love him. We need to survive in these economic times.

So, I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to so many of you that have said prayers in our behalf. To both parents, you have given so much...and then some. We could not have made it through this past year without you! I am so grateful for your love and support. Family and Friends you truly are the best and we are so blessed to have you in our life.

We feel so blessed!

Ghosts and Monsters....

Challenges of Ghosts and Monsters with a four year old!
We went through a stage not to long ago where we dealt with Ghosts and Monsters, but we were soon over it and happily moving forward. Well...Alexander had a weekend with his other mommy and to mine and Zac's dismay Alexander watched a movie with a pretty scary ghost. Needless to say ever since he came back to us on Sunday night we have had to deal with following:
-Fight at getting him to bed, it was hard before and even harder now
-Nightmares
-A child coming and getting in bed with us in the middle of the night
-A four year old that now refuses to be in a room alone no matter what the time of day it is

This morning, while I was sitting in my room Alexander came in and wanted to play his video game. I am very strict on when he plays it and its usually for 10 minutes and when Daddy gets home. That way I have leverage throughout the day to get him to be a good boy. This morning he wanted to play his video game and I wanted to get some things done so I told him if he went and dressed himself, brushed his teeth, and combed his hair he could play for 10 minutes.

My little four year old was so scared that he could not get himself to make it into his room. He just kept running back and forth from my room to his room. I think he must of made 15 trips running back and forth. I want him to get over this fear and we even had a Family Home Evening about how Daddy holds the Priesthood and that stops Ghosts and Monsters from being in the house. At one point I told him to turn on the lights, so one by one he would run to the bathroom turn the light on and run back to me in the bedroom. Keep in mind my bedroom and his bedroom are across the hall from one another. After all the lights were on, he stood at the bottom of my bed and said to himself "Okay Alex, you can do this". It wasn't on that turn that he actually succeeded but about three more tries after that. However, he did finally grab clothes and make it back to me safety, with no ghost or monster attacks.
phew....and I was so worried.

Oh please...Oh please...let this challenge soon be on it's way out the door. I need my peace of mind too or I might start seeing ghosts and turning into a monster as well.

New Stove...Thanks Gary and Kerstin

Here is the original stove, and it really was falling apart. It's real color is brown but I used this spray paint and painted it white a long time ago. The poor thing was on it's last leg, and thanks to Zac's parents (Gary and Kerstin) they were kind enough to buy us a new glass flat top. I cried as we walked out of the store, I was so happy. I also want to mention that my Father-in-Law is amazing when it comes to getting a good deal. I am not one that has that talent, but if you ever need someone to find you a good/great deal and then fight for it you want to call him.


Here is Gary carrying the stove top out


My amazing Father-in-law who can get a great deal and basicly fix anything. I kept him busy the whole week with a "honey-do list"


Kerstin, Mother-in-law and I showing off the stove top. It's so beautiful, I'm almost afraid to use it.


It's so pretty!

WE HAD A GREAT VISIT and I can't thank them enough for all the fun!

Alexander's first talk in primary

Well my proud moment as a first time mother came this past Sunday. Alexander was assigned his first talk in Primary, "Jesus is my Savior and Redeemer". We found pictures on the internet that Alexander could color and then put a talk together using those pictures. He had five pictures and the talk went like this:

Jesus is our Savior because he was born into the world to save us.

Jesus is our Savior because he taught the little children how to be kind.

Jesus is our Savior because he helped the people

Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer because he died on the cross for us so we can live with our Heavenly Father again

Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer because he came back to life after he died for us.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

He had the talk memorized by Sunday but when it came time to actually give the talk, he leaned down and told his Dad "okay, now you have to whisper in my ear and tell me everything I need to say". I think he thought that was just what you were suppose to do as that is what everyone else did.

I was also happy because Zac's Mother came to church with us and was able to witness this proud moment. It was a good day!

A visit from Farmor and Farfar with a trip to Wildlife Safari and Aquarium

Zac's parents (Gary and Kerstin) came in for a visit on Thursday (4th) and I don't know who was more excited between the three of us. I think we all needed a little TLC with the punches that life has been giving us lately. Alexander loves his Farmor and Farfar (grandparents in Swedish), and he loved that they brought their beloved dog, Pepper with them. It's so cute to see him play with Pepper and it almost makes me feel guilty that I am not allowing a dog until we have a "real" back yard (but not that guilty to give in). :)
We have had so much fun having them here, and I think both Zac and I enjoy having a full house. Zac took Friday off and then Gary took Zac and I to the IMAX/3D showing of Avatar. We had all seen it in the "normal" theatre but it really was quite the show on IMAX and 3D, we had a lot of fun. Then on Saturday we all went to the Wildlife Safari and Aquarium and that was really awesome. I personally liked it better than the Phx. Zoo. We were so much closer to the animals and had more interaction with them. It was such a fun time and we almost ran out of time seeing everything, and we were pretty tired by the end. Below are some pictures of our time there, but my camera is breaking and kept deleting the pictures we were taking so these are the only pictures that made it....sad to say. It doesn't even come close to showing all the fun we had. Zac wanted to go on the log ride they have and insisted that we go as a family. We went but Alexander got the front, then Daddy, then me. Needless to say the two of them were covered in water and it was sooo funny. We did get a picture but that was deleted from the camera...bummer. This is my new favorite place and if you ever come for a visit this is where I think we should go.


Feeding the Giraffe's

Farmor loves to give Alexander all the pleasures of life, and he loves them.

I have not seen Alexander so tired like this in a long time. We loved the way he was sitting in the car when he fell asleep, so we had to take a picture. However, as soon as we arrived home he woke up immediately and stated "well, that was a good nap"

It was a great day!