Something to Ponder...

Thought it was interesting, what do you think?

Computer Woes

For the past four months at least, our computer has had issues. We usually have problems once or twice a year, and it is ALWAYS during Christmas time. The frustrations of owning a computer with a warranty drives me crazy. Yes, the cost of repair is covered, but they neglect to tell you that you must spend a minimum of an hour on the phone with them every time you have to call them (which is quite often), and the first repair does not always fix the problem. So here we are, on our second computer in three years, fighting tooth and nail to get something fixed, that most likely won't last another year.

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With our previous computer, we had a Best Buy warranty. What a JOKE. After the third repair, you are entitled to a new computer. It was sent out 4 times; they disqualified one of the fixes as being legitimate because they couldn't find anything wrong with it that time. After countless hours on the phone with a company that should burn to the ground, they still wouldn't get us our new computer. All the while, time is running out on the warranty. Enough is enough! Andy cornered a newbie and pushed for a new computer, and got it. We were thrilled, and very surprised at the same time (under the circumstances they were definately not going to give it to us). Thank goodness for inexperience. After the fight of our life, the clerk turns around and asks, "Would you like to buy a warranty with that?" Andy was left speechless. He wanted to punch the guy.

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Our current computer is under a 1 year factory warranty. We have had to send it to HP twice in the last two months, within a 2 week span. This second time it was sent on the 3rd of February. We were supposed to get it back on the 20th. Come the 22nd, still no computer, so Andy calls the company, again, is on hold for an hour, again, only to find out that they needed a question answered on the 13th and no one was home when they called. In the meantime, it is just sitting there. This is why I STILL don't have my computer? Are you kidding me? AAAAGGGGGHHHHH!

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Thank heavens for good neighbors, letting me periodically check my emails and keep tabs in the blogging world! Someday I will get updated, I WILL!

Potty Training 101

My goal is to potty train Sara by her 2nd birthday (which is in two weeks). She is the last one, I am SO EXCITED! I have been changing diapers for 7.5 years, and I am so done. THE TIME HAS COME. I am ready to be free of changing poo! I do the "How to Potty train Your Child in a Day" method, but it has never had success for me in one day. Not with any one of my children. It usually takes a full week, and there were a couple of times I had to leave it alone for a month and re-introduce it again. Thankfully, Sara has been showing signs of wanting to potty train. Here is an overview of our successes (and failures) in our Potty Training Boot Camp!

• Day 1- NOT a good morning. On the fifth pair of undies by noon, though thankfully the contaminates have been contained thus far. Had to start a load of laundry early to keep up with the demand, made the switch to brother's undies (much looser; easily comes off and is much more uncomfortable when an accident occurs). 2 wins before naptime...could she be getting it? SIGH, I hope! Overall score: 4 good, 10,11,12...? bad

• Day 2- Very similar to yesterday, though I made it easy on myself and didn't pump her full of juice today. She scored three times, earning everyone a treat, but overall...YIKES. Very hopeful tomorrow will be better. Overall score: 3 good, 6 bad

• Day 3- I wish I could erase this morning from my memory, FOREVER. Can we say, carpet cleaner? I've hit the point in the week where I just want to give up! She knows when she has to go, that is the frustrating part. She goes and hides, every time. She always does it between the scheduled potty breaks every 5-10 minutes. I fear if this keeps going the way it does, I will be bald very soon.

• Day4- Had to put a stop to all the mayhem! Her little bum is still recovering from the juice iv...you would think I would be smarter about apple juice, but we don't drink much of it so I didn't realize how it would effect Sara. OOPS! Will have to again in a month or so to recharge! : )

MISSION INCOMPLETE!

President Hinkley

The president and prophet of our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, died on January 27th at the age of 97. I did not personally kow him, but I feel very privelaged to be acquainted with two of his grand-daughters. The special and personal insights they have shared with me help me to feel as if I had known him, and have also helped me to understand that though he is a prophet, he is also a very sweet and loving man. He is like any other grandfather in that he finds joy in his posterity; in spending time with his beloved little ones. Thank you President Hinkley, for inspiring me throughout my lifetime, I am truly grateful.


Here is an article on his life and accomplishments:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695247765,00.html

Here is a tribute to President Hinkley by Glen Beck:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCXYciIr3xs&feature=user

Super Bowl

We went to our friend's, the Ray's, for the superbowl game. The kids played and destroyed their house while the adults watched the game. What a freakin' dissapointment! UGH! Lame, lame, lame. With all the hype about the Pats having a perfect season and the Giants not standing a chance, of course they choke. You'd think I'd be used to it after cheering on the Sox for so many years. Man, I am so glad I'm not in Boston tonight... And what is up with Belichick leaving before the game is even over? What a SORE LOSER!

New Year's Goals

• get more organized
• work out regularly
• start a book club
• potty train Sara
• teach Drewby to read
• magnify church callings
• date hubby more
• go on vacation
• start new projects... and FINISH the ones I have already started
• regularly update the family blog!

Sara's Bedroom

Source of Inspiration: Sara's baby blanket. This was my source of inspiration when decorating Sara's room. It is a banket my mom gave her last Christmas, and I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. It is a handmade quilt, made by my cousin who sells them. I took my two favorite materials from the blanket, ordered them online (designer fabrics and very pricey), and sewed curtains and a crib set. I have never done anything like it, I was very much out of my element. Somehow I made it work!

Dilemma: There were two tall dressers that were unable to fit in the master bedroom, so they had to go in Sara's room. I just couldn't come up with a good space plan for all the furniture, which really only consisted of the two dressers and Sara's crib.

Solution: The solution came to me as I was browsing the HGTV website. I placed the crib between the two dressers along the wall. Even though the crib wasn't smack dab in the middle, I created the illusion by hanging sheers on either side of the crib by way of a long shower rod. It had to be tweaked a bit to keep from sagging in the middle, so it's a good thing my husband is first and foremost an enigineer. I ad-libbed on the curtain design, but it turned out so cute, I couldn't refrain from patting myself on the back! For the crib bedding, I just made a huge sleeve and inserted my old crib bedding. I did that for three reasons: 1) I can't sew very well. I wasn't sure if I could make quality bumper pads. 2) After spending a small fortune on several yards of designer fabric, I just couldn't afford to make bedding by scratch. 3) I didn't want to destroy the Noah's Ark bedding that all my boys had when they were babies, it was just too sentimental.

Here is how it turned out!

I picked up this little shelving unit at the Salvation Army for $20. Its DIY brand sold at Target for about $80! I was so excited, what a great buy!

I took some "curtain jewelry" that I bought at walmart for $4 a strand and cut it apart to create a border of butterflies above the closet doors.

I bought the larger butterflies at Target for $12. It was a kids craft project!

ARTWORK

I bought these picture frames for really cheap, $4 each, at The Christmas Tree Shops in Boston when we were there. The butterfly picture and the initials I just printed off my computer. I also added the buttons, ribbon, and scrapbook fibers, they turned out so cute!

I am so excited that I finished my first design project since school! It was a great design on a small budget, in total I think I spent about $220 for paint, furniture, art, and fabric, and sewing supplies. It was so much fun and I can't wait to be able to do it again!

Nate the Funny Man

I needed a headshot of Nate for a Christmas project I was doing, and this is what I got! What a goofball...

Turkey Day

We celebrated Thanksgiving with our friends, the Wombough's. After slaving in the kitchen all day long and cleaning my house like mad, we had a nice late dinner. We tried deep fried turkey this year, and it was delicious! After brining and marinating and dry rubbing and injecting the thing like crazy, it really was amazing. The dry rub turned it black so we thought the outside of the turkey got burned, but after tasting the skin, MMMMMmmmmm! I think we might stick with the deep fried turkey from now on! After dinner, we were joined by other friends for dessert, the Klafke's. By 9:00, Sara had dropped from all the excitement.

Jayson, Jace, Jessica, Drew, Nate

Christina, and the rest of us!

I am Thankful For...

• chocolate-not just any chocolate, but the really good stuff, the IMPORTED stuff. I can rarely eat anything else. I would rather not if it doesn't taste right!
  
• kickboxing-my favorite exercise class! Try it, it makes you feel so good (if you judge that by soreness)


• the various drawings that I find taped on walls throughout the house, mostly of Star Wars guys


• pretty things, wether it be pair of shoes or the beautiful Beaufort landscape...this place really is beautiful. I think I would go crazy living here if it wasn't!


• the late night talks/laughing sessions with Andy. We have the most fun when we are both a little punch drunk from being tired, and that boy really puts a smile on my face.
  
• the little "I wuv you's" from Sara...so precious, it melts my heart every time


• Southern food, a new found LOVE


• going crazy everyday being home with my kids


• a wonderful husband who knows and understands that I need to get away from the kids in order to keep loving them


• my three little protectors, wether it be from mortal danger or themselves

Happy Halloween!

It was so much fun dressing up all the kids in Star wars costumes. Nate was Boba Fett, Jace was a clone, Drew was Jengo Fett, and Sara was yoda, even though she was mistaken as a bunny on more than one occasion!

Motorcycle Gang

Grandpa Brox lets the kids sit on his Harley. Sara turned into a motorcycle mama, she didn't want to get off!

Travis and Melissa's Wedding

My brother Travis got married to Melissa, a sweet girl. She has a 5 yr. old little girl named Makenna, so Travis is a daddy and so my kids have a cousin on my side of the family! YEAH! It's about time. The wedding was beautiful. In the days leading up to the big day, the whole family was so busy putting everything together. It turned out to be a very nice wedding.

Elder Brox

My brother Tyler is getting ready to go on his mission to Morristown, NJ. He leaves next month before Thanksgiving, so we are so happy that we were able to be with him as he went through the Las Vegas Temple for the first time. It was awesome, what a privelage it was to be there! It was truly the highlight of our whole trip! He is so excited to be of service to the Lord as he finds those that are seeking Him. He has an amazing testimony of the restored church; I know he will be a wonderful missionary.

Street Sign

Boulder City has signs posted up and down Veteran's Memorial Drive, to honor those from the town that have gone on to serve in the Armed Forces. It's a very nice gesture, but in Andy's case his sign is inaccurate. If he were in the army, he would have undoubtably been deployed.

Little Cuz

Sara and her cousin Lindee had such a great time together. They played non-stop with babies and little strollers. They were inseparable! This was such a new experience for Sara, there are no little girls her age to play with.

The big girl cousins devoted much attention to her as well, and Sara couldn't get enough! This is what she looked like after a "session" with big cuz Bayden!

Hook

Hook is the coolest cat. If I were to ever get a cat again (the chances just don't look good after Priscilla Cat-Head, she should have been called Priscilla #$@%!-Head) it would have to be just like Hook. He was so sweet to the little ones, and he just LOOKS awesome! I am not a cat person though. My kids love cats, I have no idea where they get it. My sister-in-law claims that farm cats are the best. Maybe someday...

Nater's Birthday

Nate was able to celebrate his 7th birthday with his cousins. He had looked forward to it for months! There was lots of goodies, and we had an awesome dance contest! Aunt Jen and I got our groove on with the rest of the kids...its a good thing my camera went dead right after these pictures!



Nate got a webkinz for his birthday. He had wanted one ever since Jace got his frog. It seems the whole house is crazy about webkinz now...