Tannen's Blessing

Landon, Marcus, Tannen, and Kylie


Kylie, Wendi, Tannen, and Landon


Kylie, Tannen, and Landon

We blessed Tannen on Sunday. We were able to have a lot of our family come and visit. Grandma Simons bought him the cutest blessing outfit, and made him a beautiful white blanket. We had a huge snow storm and I felt pretty bad about having family travel though it. Marcus gave him a beautiful blessing. My sister wrote down notes of it for me. Since I use this as a journal I will share it.

Marcus blessed him with health and strength. That Tannen will grow to be a righteous son of God. That he would have the spirit and learn the things of God. For him to be an example, and stand in holy places. To listen to his family so they can teach him and that God and his family loves him. To look to his family for guidance.

Family that were able to be in the circle were Great Grandpa Simons, Grandpa Simons, Grandpa David, Brendon, Grant, Christopher, and Matthew.

I really enjoyed the day. We reserved our club house since we are in an apartment and can't fit 40 people in here. But they ended up double booking it. I was quite upset, and was glad Marcus was there to deal with it. We waited about a half and hour and the other group cleared out and we were able to have our luncheon. We had rolls and made sandwiches out of them with salads, and desserts. It was very good and I am so grateful for such a wonderful family to support and love us.

Kimberly was able to take a ton of pictures. I will post them when I get them from her. I was very excited to get a four generation picture of my Simons' Boys. Marilyn was telling me that they only have four Simons' Grandsons out of five sons. And I provide half of them ;o).

You're Fat

So the kids have been on a cartwheel kick lately. Landon has decided he wants to know how to do one. Today they were practicing again during Marcus' lunch break. We were all sitting on the couches watching the kids practice. (I feel sorry for the people below us.) They have gotten really pretty good. Kylie finally figured it out today a little before Landon. He was feeling a little bad about it, but Marcus gave him some pointers and he also figured them out. Marcus decided that he was going to show them a cartwheel. And Kylie said "I think you can do one because you are fat". We busted up laughing. By the way Marcus and I both can still do cartwheels.

The Perfect Night

Last night Tannen fell asleep around 10:00pm and I went to bed around 11:00pm. He slept until 6:30am. It was heaven. I am surprised he slept for 8 1/2 hours. I felt like I had two huge bag of rocks attached to my chest, and the little stinker wouldn't latch on but just played around for about 5 minutes. After I finished feeding him he went back to bed and so did I. Kylie came in and woke me up at 8:00, I ate breakfast with her, and was finally able to work out. I haven't been able to because Tannen doesn't like me to put me down much. Tannen woke up when I had ten minutes left to finish exercising (8:45) , but Kylie was able to get him for me, and I was able to finish. I would take a night and morning like that any day.

Coupon Virgin No More

So ever since Heather moved she has be telling me about the really cool way of shopping by using coupons combined with sales and getting killer deals on groceries. But when she was telling me about it she didn't know how I could do it where I was living (now you can). So now that I have moved I can do it. I was waiting for me to have my baby and then get adjusted. Well I have finally been ready to start shopping with coupons. Groceries seem outrageously priced to me here (I miss Winco). Last week I spent a day with Heather and she got me hooked up with her coupons, and signed up to get my own.

I went shopping with my kids yesterday after I picked up Landon from school. Two hours later with two really well behaved kids (I bought them treats), and one hungry baby and mommy this is how I did:


Albertson:
Easy mac $1.50 each (no coupon)
Prego $1.67 each (no coupon)
Taco Dinners $1.50 each (no coupon)
Flatbread Melts $1.50 each (no coupon)
Robin Eggs $.50
Two other bags of Easter candy $2.00 each
Purex Fabric Softener $1.98 each

Total spent: $31.09
Total saved: $35.76


Smiths:
Powerade $.49 each (no coupon)
Fritos $1.49 each (no coupon)
Mini Wheats little bites $.67 each
Kens salad Dressing $.49 each
American Beauty Pasta $.49 each (no coupon)
Colgate Toothpaste $.25 each
Colgate Toothbrush $.25 each
Kotex Pads $1.00 each
Kotex Liner and Tampons $1.25 each

Total Spent: 32.34
Total Saved: $64.34

I think I did better at Smiths, but I had a lot more coupons. If you are interested I have two friends that could help get a newspaper subscription (and get a commission) and teach classes on how it works, or I could let you know too. One in Utah and one in Idaho.

As a side note Landon loved shopping. He thinks I can buy whatever I want now that I have coupons. I love my Landon. Albertson's was the last store, and Tannen was pretty fussy. When I got up to the check out Landon loaded all of my groceries for me on the conveyor belt for me while I was holding Tannen. It was awesome.

The story of my life

Me, no make up, nursing Tannen with the kitty on my lap (which happens often while I nurse) and my two other little monsters. Pretty cute huh?

Dress up

Yesterday was teacher appreciation day at Landon's school. To help celebrate they had the kids dress up like their teachers. The kids that participated would get a treat and the student who looked most like their teacher would get a prize. Landon wanted to participate. We had a discussion on what his teacher wears. She doesn't do dresses or hats. But Landon told me she has a black long sleeve shirt that she wears that says "Make a difference" on the back. So I had Landon wear my black long sleeve shirt over one of his shirts. We made a sign that said "Make a difference" and pinned it on the back. He was a little concerned that kids might tease him, so I told him he could just take my shirt off and put it in his backpack. I figured he would have fun dressing up and participating, and at least he would get a treat.

When I picked him up he told me he had fun, and that it was fun to dress up like his teacher. I asked him if he got a treat and he said yes. Everyone in his class got a tootsie roll, but he got something different. He would show me when we got home. When we got home he pulled out one of those really huge chocolate Symphony bars. And told me he got it because he looked the most like his teacher. I was a little surprised that he won but I guess wearing your mom's shirt with a sign pinned on the back goes a long way.

So Many Firsts

The hole in Landon's mouth.


Tannen's first smiles


Tannen playing with Daddy

We have been having a lot of firsts happening around here. First Marcus found my first gray hair last week. I really have been surprised that we haven't found one before then, not that he digs through my hair looking for them. I just never noticed them. But most of my siblings found gray hairs before they were 28. So yeah for me.

Then on Saturday Landon FINALLY lost his first tooth. Marcus tried pulling it with his fingers, but it was just too little and slick. So he got some floss and tied it on to his tooth. He thought that it slid down in the gums and really loosened it up. He pulled on the string and didn't even feel any pull and thought the floss just slipped off. But no the tooth came out with it. Landon didn't even flinch it was that ready to come out. He was pretty excited.

Tannen is 1 month old today. Last night Marcus and I were playing with Tannen, and Marcus was able to get his first smile. It was such a cute full faced smile. He got two really great ones before I thought to get the camera, and gave us a couple of smiles after, but I was a little too slow to click the button so I got more after smiles. He is still really cute though.

I was also able to work out for the first time since having Tannen, and really it has been a few months. I was very happy to finally have enough energy this morning to get going.