10 Amazing Years!

I really am a super lucky girl, let me tell you why: First Jake married me! I love Jake so much, he is the best husband and the best father. We have been married for 10 years ... lets be honest, marriage can be tough at times and we have our ups and our downs, but this last 10 years has been perfect and there is nobody else I would have wanted to have shared it with! Why is Jake so great .... let me tell you. Jake is strong in the church. Jake holds the priesthood and he honors it. He stands up for what he believes. He works around a lot of crap and see's a lot of crap, but he doesn't let it change the way he is or the person he is. He Loves the Lord, has a strong testimony and he isn't afraid to let others know his beliefs. He is a great example to our family. He is a hard worker. He works so much and is so dedicated to his work. He does an outstanding job at all that he does. He cares about his job, and takes it serious. He respects people. There are a lot of people that make bad decisions that are good people, and Jake knows that and treats those people as good people that have made a bad decision. He doesn't let his power go to his head, he uses it wisely and truly respects others. When I have been with him, and seen his interactions it is very impressive. People look up to him because of that. There are very few people that don't like Jake!! I truly believe attitude is important and Jake always has a good attitude. He treats me amazingly. Jake is always giving me compliments. He is always making me feel better about myself. He always dose little things to make sure I know how much he loves me. He would do anything for me. He loves spending time with me and the family. He makes us happy. He knows how to make us have fun. He is so cute to the kids. He loves our kids more then anything and would never let anything bad happen to them. He is a protector. he makes sure we are safe and that we have the things that we need. We have had so many wonderful memories in our life. One of them being having two children. And both times Jake was there with me the whole time, and when he would look at me I knew everything would be okay, even though I was so scared. And even though it was so hard to get pregnant, looking back, it was so worth it. Knowing that I can't get pregnant again was really disappointing to me. Hearing of others getting pregnant, was so heart breaking. But after praying and talking with Jake I am so comforted, and I know that I am lucky to have my two kids and that it is okay, I am happy with my two kids, and I know that they are two amazing blessings in our life!! We have been on tons of amazing vacations with each other. 3 cruises, Cancun, Vegas, Disneyland 4 times, and many other fun outings. My life is truly complete with Jake, Marshall and Kambria!

Jake surprised me with a fun quick trip for our Anniversary. We went up to Heber and stayed over and then went 4-wheeling up near midway! It was sooo much fun. Jake surprised me with Cheesecake from the cheesecake factory, chocolate covered strawberries also. He sure knows me well. I am not a flower girl, but I LOVE sweets (and it shows :) ) We had such a relaxing day! Thanks Jeannine for watching our kids for us, we really appreciate it! And thanks B-ruce for the 4 wheelers, it was awesome ... makes me miss ours way too much though.

I know the next 10 years will be just as good, I am excited to see what it brings our way!!! I love you Jake!!

The last days of Bear Lake

On Thursday the rest of Jake's family arrived to Bear Lake. We again played at the lake, Grandma Cutright brought up a bunch of crafts for the kids to do, and we ate good food. Friday we played at the lake and BJ and Nat rented some wave runners. Of course it was the windiest day and the waves were huge. I only went out of the wave runner for a minute because it was too wavy for me. Jake and BJ rode them to and from the west to the east of the lake and that night and next day they were so sore. Friday night Jake and I and the kids went for a walk, on our way back we noticed a fire starting on the west mountain. It grew rather large and was pretty interesting to watch burn. Marshall has such a tender heart and was so concerned about the fire. he wanted to know that he firemen would be okay, and that they could get it out before anyone got hurt or lost there homes. When we went to bed, he was sure to remember night time prayers and wanted me to say it. I did ask that everyone fighting the fire and near it would be safe from harm and all. However when I was done he was disappointed that I didn't ask for the fire to be put out. I had to remind him that Heavenly Father knows our thoughts and he knows that Marshall is thinking that and everything will be okay. When we woke up the first thing Marshall wanted to do was to look over at the fire, and to his surprise it was totally out. I think it was a huge learning tool for Marshall. We then went and drove by and the firemen did a super good job of containing the fire. It stopped right before a farm, which would have been destroyed. Not sure what caused the fire, but it spread quickly. Saturday we played at the lake and then Sunday we headed home. We had such a fun time this year at Bear Lake. We were all healthy and happy. We had a few problems getting up there, we wondered if heavenly Father was trying to tell us to stay home, but we learned to have faith and trust that everything would work out, and it did!! I love my little family and I am so glad we were able to spend so much time together and grow closer as a family.

Thursday we were a bit tired of the water so we stayed and hung out around camp. for lunch we went over to a pizza joint, it was so yummy. It was connected to a chocolate store. Marshall got him and the cousins chocolate covered Marshmellows, I got Chocolate covered cinnamon bears!!

Jake hugging is mom. He is such a great Son!!!

Jake put this 3 tubes on the water and then he dove into them. It was pretty funny.

This fire was so amazing to watch burn. Jake had brought his Police binoculars and we could see it up close and personal.

do you like how 3 of the 4 have binoculars looking.

Bear Lake Days 4-7

On Monday the Rousey's and Gilberts joined us for the remainder of the trip, we were happy because the cousins have so much fun together. The Moss' came up to hang out with us for a few days as well and we are so glad that they did. We had so much fun with them up there. Marshall and Addie have such a fun time together. And Jake and Jon are like little school boys happy as can be when they are together. And I loved the company of Lisa.
On Tuesday we headed over to the lake to play. We went to the East Idaho side to some private property, BJ knows a guy that owns a cabin there, and played for a long time. It was nice because you had the beach and then a shallow area of water and then beach and then the lake. And you could go out into the lake forever until it got deep. The kids loved the shallow area, it was warm and just the right depth to play in. Jake and Jon did get a bit wild and they would play frisbee and who ever lost had to do silly things. I am sorry boys, but the picture will be posted!!! We had such a good time. The weather was perfect and the kids had a blast.
There were also a few moments where I was terrified. One of the days we were down at the lake (I think it was Sunday) and it was getting time to go back to the camp. The waves were picking up in the wind, and we noticed clear out past the buoy there were some people that needed help, they were in a little raft and they were stuck out there and were getting pushed further and further into the lake. My Dad was out on the wave runner and started over to them. Jake and I jumped on the other wave runner and my cousin got us a rope. We got out there and it was a 4 year old, 7 year old and a 9 year old, NO life jackets, clear out there, where it was deep. As we pulled them into shore there was a group of adults trying to swim out to them, but it was deep and none of them had life jackets on either. The mother was bawling and was so scared, she was yelling at them, asking them what they were doing, she didn't even realize that they had gotten in the raft and she could never had been able to get there in time to help them. She was so distraught. As we rode past her to bring them to shore it really hit me how concerned she was, my eyes got super watery, because I could not even imagine losing a child that way!!! I am so thankful it ended the way it did and that we were still there so that we could help them back to safety.
Well Wednesday at the lake kambria was getting very comfortable with the water. Getting a little more daring, so we were watching her super close. We made sure she had her life jacket on and kept her in sight and a good distance to us. We were out in the water throwing the frisbee. The water was up to my knees at most,and up to Kambrias waist. She was standing right next to me. I looked at her and she was fine. I literally turned my back to her for 5 seconds to throw the frisbee and when I turned back around she was face down in the lake floating. My heart stopped and I was in utter shock. I immediately grabbed her and she was 100% fine, however I couldn't believe how fast accidents could really happen. We were being so careful and had her right by us, and in 5 seconds time frame we could have lost her. It was the scariest thing that has happened to me. I took her back to the chair and just cuddled her and held her and tried not to cry. I think about families that this has happened to, complete accidents and I have no idea how they can handle that. I would have been devastated. We have had a few weird things happen to us this trip and we are ever so thankful that they all turned out how they should.

Jake dug a hole near the chairs and Kam had a fun time playing in it.

Kambria was a Daddy's girl and only wanted him towards the end of our vacation.

Paige pushed Marshall around in this tube forever one of the days. It was so cute. Marshall sure loves his cousins.

Marshall got sunburned eyes the first day, so we begged him to wear his hat the remainder of our trip!

Kambria loved playing in the water!!

Jake and Marshall out at the dock

Bear Lake Day 1-4

We just returned from bear lake and we had a blast. I LOVE Bear Lake. This year we went up for 10 days. We got off to a rough start, but it was still a blast. We left on a Friday, the Thursday before we went to go and get the AC charged in the truck (it had just went out), and the truck wouldn't start!! We jump started it and headed into Draper, I was following Jake in the van with the kids. Well we only got to the river bottom before the battery started dying and Jake had to pull into Butterfield Ford. They looked at the truck for over an hour and did several things and then it just started working, it must have had a lose wire or something, and they didn't even charge us!! So Friday we were headed to the lake, we were on the freeway almost to Evanston, WY and one of our trailer tires blew. Not fun to change a trailer tire on the side of the freeway ... and then we had the joy of paying $125.00 to get another spare tire while in Evanston. But we made it up safe and sound and for that we are thankful! Our hot water stopped working the 2nd day up so we had to boil water to give the kids a bath and to wash dishes, but we survived. Our first 3 days were spent with My parents and my sister and her family. It was so much fun. On Friday night Kurt made a super delicious meal in the dutch oven, we roasted marshmellows and starbursts. We woke up Saturday and went down to the lake. My parents brought there waverunners, we spent the day playing in the sand and hitting the waves, it was a blast. My cousins let us use there kid ski and Marshall got right up behind the wave runner. He did so good until I did to sharp of a turn and made Marshall sink in the deep water of the lake. He was so scared, he was screaming and yelling to get him, and I don't think Jake could have got to him fast enough. Once he realized that he would just float if he held still he relaxed a bit. We did the same on Sunday. On Monday we woke up went to the lake for a few hours and played in the water and on the wave runners. My uncle then brought us out in the boat. I attempted to wake board and I could not get up for the life of me. So after 100 attempts I gave up and water skiied, it was so much fun. Jake got up his first try on the wake board and loved every minute of it. My family then left for home. We also brought up our bikes and went on many bike rides, I am 100% out of shape and I plan to start a serious workout now that I am home!!!

18 months

Kambria had her 18 month check up today and she is doing great!!!
She weighs 23.6 lbs which is 40.15%tile
Kambria's height is 31.5 inches which is 46.32%tile
Kambria's Head Circumference is 18.75 which is 79.92%tile
She got 2 shots today and only cried for about 15 seconds. She must have known she was going to get shots because she gave the Dr a dirty look the entire time!!
Kambria is doing very very well the Dr said. She is very smart for her age.
Some of the words that Kambria says often are:
Nose, tummy, hey guys, bye, hi, thank you, please, toes, pretty, mine, mommy, dada, marsh, mav (this is the dog maverick and she says it while growling), where is it, what is it, look, all done, yes, no, plus many other words. I am proud to say she is learning quickly and says alot of words.
She also knows where her nose, eyes, hair, mouth, ears, hands, toes, tummy all are. She knows what a dog, cat, bear and duck say.
She follows directions very well. When she is done and has a wrapper you can ask her to throw it away and she will put it into the garbage. She can get her diaper and wipes and bring them to her. When you tell her time for bed, she will get her binky (yes we need to take it away), blanket, and drink and go to her crib ... most of the time.
She loves to be outside and is totally happy when she is.
She climbs on EVERYTHING. It is a game to her to climb up on the kitchen table and then yell, "MOM, DOWN" so of course I take her down and then she does it again until she gets put in time out.
We love Kambria, I can't believe that she is already 18 months old. She went to nursery last Sunday and did great. She didn't cry when I left and each time we checked on her she was happy. When Jake picked her up after church they were holding her, so she must have become sad at the very end. But it is the very first time being in there at all, so I would say that is super great!!!!

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So I have to tell you that I am a coupon girl. I decided to give it a try and I saved so much money the first few weeks that I just couldn't stop. I am addicted to it. I thrive on finding a good deal. I know some of you think I am a dork, but seriously I love it. USBank is having a promotion. If you sign up for a new checking account you basically get $75.00 free. Here is how it works. You open up the account and deposit at least $75.00, I did $80.00 to be safe. And then you go and spend the $75.00 as you normally would. Once you have spent the $75.00 you call the branch and they will deposit the $75.00 back into your account the next business day. So yes I went out with my coupons to make it even a better deal and I spent my $75.00 and with that money I purchased 80 items!! So each item was basically $0.93. It was all stuff that I needed and will use. some of the big items I got a great deal on were:
4 12 packs of soda
4 things of nice shampoo
2 Schick Pro Glide razors with an extra cartridge - 6.58 each on sale
232 Count Huggies wipes - these are normally 6.99 on sale
360 Count Huggies wipes - these are normally 8.99 on sale
plus 68 other items
I made 7 different shopping trips and here were my best savings:
rite aid = 97% savings
rite aid = 78% savings
smiths = 62% savings (not great, but it was mostly stuff I needed for a BBQ)
Smiths = 92% savings
It takes a little bit of time, but it is sooo worth it. I think we have enough toothpaste to last us for the rest of our lives, but all of it has been free, so you can't say NO to that.