Wow What a weekend!

I would be very ungrateful if I didnt say how grateful I am, and our whole family is, of the great events that have happened this weekend. To start this off, I guess I should explain that the last few weeks have been pretty crazy and stress filled at our home, and we found out the reason why. After church, Troy, Brooke and I were able to drive to O'Fallon to the stake center, and be there as Troy was set apart by President Holt to be the new Elders Quorum President for our ward! Wow was that an amazing blessing and setting apart to be able to witness. Pres Holt is such an amazing man, and is so soft spoken and it was so beautiful. Troy was, is, of course, so excited, but so nervous at this new experience ahead of him. I know he is such an amazing man, and will do AWESOME!! This ward has a lot of challenges, and it will definitely be a growing experience for him! I am so proud of Troy, and the fact that he is a worthy priesthood holder and is worthy of this calling. I know it will bless our family in so many ways. I know he will be able to touch so many people and do such a great work here in this area. So after this, we were able to go with Brooke to talk to Patriarch Shepherd to recieve her patriarchal blessing. WOW! Another amazing experience for us. The spirit was soooo strong, and it was a very memorable day. Brooke was promised such beautiful things in her blessing. We have always known she is a natural born missionary, and has been her whole life...and to hear this brought out in her blessing was so wonderful! In fact, I dont know if this is appropriate, but after the blessing, the patriarch felt necessary to clarfiy some things to us and reiterate parts, as if it was so important and he wasnt sure he got it across as well as it needed to be!!! WOW!!! Brooke was very excited and in awe after this. She said she had never felt the spirit so strong as then and will always remember this day. I am so grateful for such a wonderful family. I have been so blessed!! Our family has grown so much and is continuing to grow and prosper and we know it is from our father in heaven.

Preschool Graduate!!

So she did it!! Macee finished preschool, and now is officially ready for Kindergarten next year!! YEAH for her!! (and mom!) She was so cute. It was at the Lutheran Church, since that is where she goes to school...so the program was filled with songs about Jesus and lots of prayers and stuff! It was fun! Macee has grown up so much this year, with her new glasses, and her making new friends at school and really getting out of her shy self. WE are so thrilled to see this change in her. What a sweet girl she is turning into...and ready to hit the real school next year! yeah!! Here she is holding her certificate. This is the preschool graduating class..and all the teachers and helpers..

Here she is after she got her "diploma"!!

Happy Birthday Troy!!

Well, this Sunday was a great day...Mothers Day and Troys bday!! So, we had a day full of celebrations! We a nice church service with the kids singing in sacrament "I Often Go Walking", except Macee chickened out on us agian and wouldnt go up..but thats ok, she has sung it to me a million times at home by herself!! Then we came home and had a nice afternoon with the kids and had Troy's cousin Tom here with us as well. Mom got some special Mothers Day cards and some pretty flowers from Tom W. The kids all gave their dad presents and the kids and Tom made snicker cake!! Here is Troy with his birthday cake, and LOTS of candles!!

Blowing out ALLL those candles...we were airing out the room before the smoke detector went off!! REALLY!! Britton getting some love after giving his gift to dad...his little hot wheels of a yellow camero that his dad loved!!

Jalan's 25 things we love about dad poster he made for his dad....including things like,

"ugly-free, super wicked, handsome, fast reader, loves mom, smells good, 37 years" (Ya, he is 38) Wow that kid is so funny! He has wit and so much love!! Here are the girls giving dad their gift...they wanted to give him something he would use everyday...so they gave him...HIS wallet and phone...arent they generous?? Gotta love teenagers! I think they stole that idea from Alvin and the Chipmunks!

Jalan showing dad about his presents he have...Jalan is always so generous and spends hours creating gifts and working on special things...what a heart this boy has! This is what birthday for dad is like in our house...hang all over dad...repeat....

Sister giving her daddy his present and getting a nice big hug and kiss...She gave daddy one of her favorite stuffed animals, the same one he has gotten the last 2 years! haha..

Macee and her new bestest buddy...Troy's cousin Tom W!! She wont leave his side and he is always stuck playing dolls, jumping on the tramp or just hanging with macee...he is such a great sport to play with her so much! We are really enjoying having Tom around our house!

State Track Meet

Well, of course I cannot do this right, so of course, the pics are uploaded backwards.... BUT....Here is Brookie at her state track meet this last Saturday. She did really good in track this year, suprising her coach in her improvement since last year. Her coach said she was one of the fastest on the team...yet she never got to run an individual race. she ran the two relays this year. she ran the 4x100 and the 4x200. She did really good! Their team won regionals, and qualified for state in both races. Saturday she went to rend lake college and ran. Their 4x100 took 4th, and their 4x200 took 8th place. It was a good accomplishment, as they had some really tough competition.


Here she is with her 2 medals, all done! Whew what a relief! I'm sure I was more nervous than anyone in the stands...why is that i get nervous still just watching???

This is their 4x200....she was so close to passing the girl the whole time..Brooke was the anchor leg and got to finish, but this was one of the heats, and so even with the 2nd place finish, they finished 8th overall.

Brooke started the 4x100 relay, so here she is just starting out around the curve...look at those legs!! Go Brooke!! And no, she isnt the only one in the race, she is just on the inside, so everyone else is in front of her! :)

Our Sweet Little Glasses Girl

Ok, so I took Macee to the eye dr for her check up before Kindergarten, and guess what...she needs glasses!! They said she has 20/30 vision. So, she had to get glasses!! yeah us! They had to dialate her eyes, so here she is in her cute old lady glasses! so funny!! Here she is this morning before preschool all cute and ready to see good! If only we can keep them on her face, and not the counter!! Its definitely taking her some getting used to wearing them!

What a cutie pie!!

Ok, so my best one yet!!

Ok, so here is my most exciting coupon winnings!! Ok, so I got all this for.......$2.13!!! Yes, I KNOW!!! The pic is blurry in my excitement and didnt notice until I put it all away...so, I got; 3 Johnsons buddies, 4 bottles of Kraft Mayo, 2 boxes of puffs tissues, dobie scrubbers, 5 bags of chex mix, 5 bags of granola bites, 5 tubes of sunblock , 3 bottles of eye drops!! I was so excited!!

Coupons!!!

Ok, this is mostly for Casey and Nicole..I finally started couponing and am LOVING it!! Its so addicting! Its like a game...I cant wait to get the sunday paper to see what coupons are there this week, and whats on sale!! will it be a jackpot week or bust?? haha.. So here are a few of my shopping buys..of course not as good as Casey's deals, but I am learning!! I am so proud!

Schnucks-$41.53-kind of alot, but look what I got!!
gogurts-1.77 ea, electrasol tabs-1.49 ea, tissues-1.00(needed, not on sale), eggs-2.00(Needed, not on sale), air freshner kits-1.99(normally over $10), doritos-1.29(not on sale, macee snack), dish soap-.50 ea, air freshner-free, floss-free, crescent rolls-.50 ea, cinnamon rolls-.50 ea, pop tarts-1.58, pasta packs-.66 ea, dressing-free, cereal-1.66 ea, band-aids-.50 ea, eggos-1.48 ea

Walgreens-$16.93- seems like alot, but I got the sodas for us since we were thirsty,

razor-1.99, glucose meter-free, deoderants-free, dr p-free, chex mix-1.00(just on sale), lotions-1.30-3.25(not very good deals, Im still learning!)

Walgreens: vitamin water-free, peeps-.75, reeses-1.25 asprin-.80 and cleanser-2.00

CVS:9.96-milk-2.49(needed it), pantene-1.00 ea, razor-.99, softsoap-free, pantiliners 1.49(needed), cookies-1.00(needed)

I went to Kmart and got this stuff: $44 it seems like alot..but look close at all the stuff I got! pringles-.50 ea, poptarts 12 count-1.25, kotex-free, lotions-.50 ea, deoderants-.09-1.00 ea, floss-free, dishwasher tabs-2.50( would have been free if my kmart would have doubled up to 4.00 like everyone else..ours only does to 2.00..bummer!), cough drops-free, hersheys bliss-1.00, bandaids-.19, shampoo-.50, shave gel-.69, pine sol-.50, loreal eye shadow-.45 each! CVS: 13.66-tresemme- 1.33 ea, softsoap-1.00 ea, crest-.50, makeup-3.00 ea

Target-I took Paisley and we had a blast!! haha...28.75

Soda-free), pringles-.75, goldfish(Macee's snack)1.09, fruit snacks-.52, warm delights-.75, danimals (Macee's other snack)2.00, dove-1.50 ea, deoderant-free, quattro razors-2.94 ea, suave-.44 ea, johnsons buddies-.22 ea, pepto bismol-4.94(not on sale, just tummy trouble at home) As you see, if it wasnt for macee's snacks I would save alot of money!

Plus there's more, but this is enough to bore everyone enough..Im sorry I am just excited!! Its such a great feeling to come home with bags of stuff and know I didnt spend very much...of course I feel its getting out of hand getting things for a great deal!