All these things shall give thee experience.

So we had a little family experience that I don't feel like blogging about it because I'm trying to put it behind me but there were a lot of positives that came from it as well. More positives than negatives. There are a lot of details and blessings that I won't tell because they are too personal or sacred.  So here's the story:

We were driving home from visiting my parent's in Henderson, NV and about 30 miles north of St. George we heard a noise and the car felt like a flat tire had occurred. I pulled over. Perry looked at what he could see (it was completely dark) and couldn't see anything. I noticed the wheel was bent in. I called Geico. We got a tow back to Washington, UT (basically St. George) and got a hotel. We stayed in the hotel for 2 days. No car. It was being fixed. The cars wheel bearing ran out of grease and wore out and broke. The mechanic said that normally if this happens on the freeway the wheel would come completely off and the car should've flipped. Blessing number one. Several more blessings transpired. One of which was they didn't charge us as much as they should of for the work and parts they put into the car. People were so generous. There are just too many blessings to say.

 I can say for sure that I was emotionally stable through the entire event until we got home and I looked at our bank account. But yet again I prayed to feel like things would be alright and I immediately felt at peace. Everyday something new happens that continues to bless us during this experience. I'm grateful that God watches out for us and answers our prays if we are listening or watching for things to be grateful for!

Thanksgiving Break and Red Rock

So this Thanksgiving we were lucky enough to be able to visit my family in Henderson, NV. Mom, Dad, and Megan were there. We drove down Wednesday evening and stayed until Sunday afternoon. The first day we of course cooked all day long and enjoyed each other's company. Perry was happy to be able to practice some music since he wasn't bogged down with his studies, I cooked with Mom, Grant enjoyed the new array of toys at his disposal, dad slept, and Megan slept due to working all night.

Later Grant has a silly face photo shoot

He discovered the boat and loved to pretend to drive it.

Oh and outside was fun too. But he was enjoying an apple in this picture.

The second day in Henderson we went to Ethel's Chocolate factory and Cactus gardens to pass time. Oh and we can't forget we stood at the airplane viewing area. Grant thought it was quite fascinating to watch all the planes land!

The third day we ventured over to Red Rock Canyon. We visited the visitors center which is really cool but somehow I didn't get any of those pics onto my computer. And we did a simple hike that even Grant could do into some of the really big RED rocks. It was Calico trails I think. 

He is a great hiker and has enjoyed a few so far!

Meg.

Just had to climb into the cubby.

It was an absolutely perfect day to hike. Great temperature and no wind!

Grandma Flora supervised a lot of the younger climbers endeavors!

Group photo.

Rocks rocks and more rocks. Something Grant forgot he loved as a younger baby. 

Got to have the jumping photos. 

I know my hiking outfit isn't the most flattering.

Yay we both were in the air finally.

Needed a picture of him actually using the pack sense I lugged it to our destination.

We attended a great church meeting where Meg sang How Great Thou Art  in front of the congregation and  then we had lunch and left.  Next post will describe the crazy adventure that happened while on the road! If you want more photos or videos of these adventures during Thanksgiving break visit Meg's blog here.

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

Natural Homemade Cleaning

So I'm basically obsessed with natural cleaning alternatives. This isn't because I have an allergy or get headaches from regular cleaners but its actually just more convenient to use what is so simple and basic and works for everything. The three products are vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. I use a 1:1 ratio of vinegar and water to clean everything from the whole bathroom to handles, mirrors, dusting, carpet cleaning, sanitizing toys...etc. Peroxide is usually just something I spritz on everything that I cleaned with vinegar to help sterilize it. You let it air dry. Baking soda is used when cleaning carpets (mix a paste with vinegar), scrubbing surfaces that would normally need a rough scrubber (stove bowls), but this does the trick without scratching (uses less energy too!). I also use baking soda and vinegar to sanitize my drain that doesn't have a disposal (put a wash cloth over the hole immediately for 10 minutes). I use all three things in my laundry as well. Baking soda deodorizes, vinegar is a fabric softener, and peroxide sterilizes/sanitizes. Win Win! I'm sure there are millions of other uses, not to mention how great vinegar is with helping bread rise and how peroxide is a natural teeth whitener. How baking soda and vinegar can replace shampoo, and baking soda has long been used in toothpaste.  The list goes on. I love these three products. I never have to buy other cleaners again. So simple!

First Snow Fun

Grant was a wee little baby when he first experienced snow, then the second winter in his life we lived in Henderson, NV where it doesn't snow, soo this is the first year he has had the opportunity play in it. He has a couple snowman books and likes to talk about snowmen but he didn't really know what they were until yesterday. Friday night it snowed and stuck. Saturday morning after breakfast we played outside.  It amazed me that even though he had never really played with snow he was super excited to go outside and experience it.  So here are some pictures  and videos of the experience:

So this picture is obviously not of Grant playing in the snow. This is Grant and his friend Coleman at Roll-Up Crepes, holding hands, while their daddies play a little gig.

Half of Perry's band called "On the Radio." Check out their web page here.

Somersaults! He just learned how.

Peaking at Grant to see what he's doing oh so quietly. He had closed the door and started doing this.

Being silly on the couch.

Grant was jealous of the snowman's carrot so I got him one too. 

I'm always behind the scenes. I wanted to be in at least 1 pictures.

Stealing the snowman's carrot nose.

Silly.

Eating snow. Not the yellow or brown snow. 

Hugging his new friend.

Just had to add this one. Grant shimmied out of his pjs a little during naptime.

Joy

Lately I have been finding joy in everything I see and do. I find joy in the sunshine. In the mountain range outside my window, in the satisfaction of a clean house, in the simple smile and things my son learns, in the companionship of my family, in the opportunity to exercise, in the ability to make good bread. I have joy! I am studying how to be more charitable (the way God loves us and everyone around us, and how we should love others) in my scripture study. I have learned that when we feel joy we are feeling God's love. When we express gratitude for that joy and what we are finding joy in we are loving God with the kind of love he loves us with. Joy is a great topic to think about especially when Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner but I haven't been thinking about it just because of the holidays. They are more of a pleasant afterthought. I just love life and all the possibilities of things to do, learn, and teach. Life is so interesting and we have the privilege to explore what its all about.  Be joyful! And let God know you are and for what reasons! You will feel blessed because you are blessed.

"This is Halloween!"

This Halloween holiday we have painted pumpkins, raked leaves, ate roasted pumpkin seeds, made pumpkin chocolate muffins with cinnamon cream cheese frosting (courtesy of my friend Karissa ), danced to Halloween music, decorated the apartment, carved pumpkins, read ghost stories, juiced my own apple cider, trick or treated, made pumpkin smoothies, and ate lots and lots of candy!  I love Halloween. I know some members of the LDS church choose to do something else with their families on this day but really we are celebrating the people who have died. So there is nothing to be ashamed of in celebrating the holiday commercially. Its not evil. Also celebrating holidays makes life more interesting.  Here are some pictures and videos of a few of the above mentioned activities and some other random pictures:

Silly boy.

Halloween decor. We made the spiders.

First time painting. Painting pumpkins.

I think he got just about every thing.

The damage.

It happened to a really warm day hence the onesie.

Showing elmo the washer.

First haircut with the electric razor by his daddy. I gave him the last one.

Hugging the pumpkin. He did this when I said to smile.

Elmo

Farmer boy.

Farmer girl.

So we are the farmer's who harvest our pumpkin.

Love the on demand smile.

Sorry about the lame angle. I forget sometimes that I can't rotate a video.