Projects...

Hello everyone! I posted some pictures of projects I've been up to to keep me busy on our blog. Check it out and let me know what you think. :)

Love, Crys

Budgeting Worksheets

I have talked to some of you about the Budgeting Program/Worksheets that I came up with. The program is very easy to use and really helps you to see where all of your money goes and to come up with a realistic budget. I would love to send it to anyone who would like it and help you to get it up and going. It takes concepts from the churches pamphlet, One For the Money, and other practical and realistic ideas. This is something we have been using since last May and has been a HUGE help and blessing for us. This is something I enjoy doing and am willing to help anyone who would like it. Call me and I can e-mail it to you. It uses Excel. Love you! Dori

I just wanted to let everyone know that we also have our own family blog. I am trying hard to update it often. I have been terrible about it in the past, so here's to improving in 2009. I just updated with a few posts to cover the last 6 months or so. I put our family pictures that we recently had taken and a few videos of Amber. So come take a look! Hope everyone has had a great week! Hope your first week back at school went well Utahna. Love you all!

Love, Crys

click here to visit our blog

You might live in North Dakota if...

One of my friends posted this on her Facebook page and it made Nick and I laugh. So we thought we'd share it.

Jeff Foxworthy's comments on North Dakota:

> If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 8
inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim
by, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If you're proud that your state makes the national news primarily
because it houses the coldest spot in the nation, You might live in
North Dakota.
>
>If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, You
might live in North Dakota.
>
> If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work
there, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time, You might live
in North Dakota.
>
> If your town has an equal number of bars and churches, You might live
in North Dakota.
>
> If parking your car for the night involves an extension cord, You
might live in North Dakota.
>
> If you know how to correctly pronounce Medina, Cando, and Hebron, You
might live in North Dakota.
>
> If you think that ketchup is a little too spicy, You might live in
North Dakota.
>
> If "vacation" to you means going shopping for the weekend in
Grand
Forks, Fargo, Minot or Bismarck (while the kids swim at the Comfort
Inn), You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If you measure distance in hours, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If your family vehicle is a crew cab pickup, You might live in North
Dakota.
>
> If you know several people who have hit deer more than once, You might
live in North Dakota.
>
> If you often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same
day and back
again, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If you can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging
blizzard, without flinching, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If you see people wearing hunting clothes at social events, You might
live in North Dakota.
>
> If you've installed security lights on your house and garage and leave
both unlocked, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If you think of the major food groups as beer, fish, and venison, You
might live in North Dakota.
>
> If the largest traffic jam in your town centers around a high school
basketball game, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If you carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how
to use them, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If there are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at Wal-Mart at
any given time, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If there are more people at work on Christmas Eve Day than on Open
Deer season, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, You
might live in North Dakota.
>
> If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled
with snow, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and
road construction, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If you can identify a southern or eastern accent, You might live in
North Dakota.
>
> If you consider Fargo exotic, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next to
your cottonwood, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If the sunbelt to you means Bismarck, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If a brat is something you eat, You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If finding your misplaced car keys involves looking in the ignition,
> You might live in North Dakota.
>
> If you go out to a fish fry every Friday, You might live in North
Dakota.
>
> If you find 0 degrees a little chilly, You might live in North Dakota.

Nick and I wanna add one...

>If you think "for cute" is an acceptable way to say you like something, you might live in North Dakota

BLIZZARD!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello family!

Just letting everyone know we are safe. We are completely snowed in and enduring a CRAZY blizzard, but are safe. Church was canceled due to the weather. We got a message on our ward website from the first presidency saying be prepared to tap into your food storage. I'm so grateful that we've be counseled to keep a food storage. Looks like it's gonna come in handy sooner than anyone thought. I'll keep you updated on the storm here. Stay safe where you all are. We love you! And will talk to you all soon.

Love, Crys and Amber

PS. Nick is doing well. One week before he gets home this time! WE CAN'T WAIT!!! We all just want him him...kinda still like him! ;) Love you all!

Everyday Stuff

Well, I'm sorry I haven't been on the blog for a while. I really just haven't had time to get on during the day, and I'm so darn tired at the end of every day. I don't have anything amazing to say, so I'll just tell you a few things I've done lately.

Friday, I went to 2 different awards assemblies at the boys school. (They all have great grades.) Then I went and paid for a Solar Oven we're buying. Then I went and bought a toilet seat that fits onto a 5 gal. bucket, for our emergency preparedness stuff. Then I went back to the school for Elijah's special poster he shared with his class for being the star of the week.

Starting Thurs. until Sat. night, we have 3 other kids staying with us, while their parents are in Maryland. Jo-Jo, who is 6, Nathan, who is 10, and Kylee, who is 13. They've been good. I also watched my friends little 8 mo. old on Thurs. while she moved.

Wed. I cleaned the house pretty good and did about 7 loads of laundry. It's only taken about 2 + years for me to finally figure out how to put fabric softener in our type of washing machine. But, WOW, it makes a difference! I also cooked up 8 lbs. of Taco Meat, then canned it for our 3 mo. supply for taco's. I still need to can a few more jars.

Tue., Dan and I went early to vote. Yea on 102 and 8!!!! I made cupcakes for Elijah's class, for his birthday, chocolate chocolate. Then we made a white on white cake with sprinkles for Isaac's birthday. They both wanted pizza for dinner, so we got Papa John's, (they had a carry out special for 1 lg. for $6.99.)

I can't remember what else I've done past that, without looking at my calendar to remind me. I'm so sad.

Jacob, is now 8 and in scouts and getting baptized on Sat. Elijah, is now 6 and Isaac, is 4. Can't believe Michael will be 1 in a couple of weeks. Amber too.

We look forward to seeing everyone who is able to make it out for Jacob's baptism. And we will miss those of you who can't make it.

Love you!

Dori

Happy Conference Day!

Dearest Family,

It was good to talk with each of you & learn how you are doing & what's new in your life. It certainly has it's challenges but we have much to be thankful for. I am listening to the latest church CD called Called to Serve & really enjoying it! The sky is blue with a smattering of clouds all around. Don't think it knows just what it really wants to do outside today! Garry got his hair cut & then went on over to the Mission Valley Stake Center to listen to the Priesthood Session. I'm anxious to know what is being said at this time for us to prepare for. Perhaps it's still the same things since we haven't all mastered the ones they've been saying for so long. I am anxious to really get our food storage squared away. It is a work in progress for at least the 3 month " Must Have" supply (we are on our way with los of canned goods but need to do the wheat, flour & other essentials). We have the 72 hr packs in the house & 1 in each car. Did you guys eat yours today so that you can rotate them & keep them fresh? I must admit I didn't but the weekend isn't over yet!! I heard that a lot of folks do that & it's easier to remember when you did it if it's every Conference.

Well Darlings All - I am going to try to get some more of the Book of Mormon read as I am taking the challenge from our Stake President, Pres. Spring, to re-read the Book of Mormon by our Stake Conference the first weekend of November. I am enjoying it thoroughly once again.

I'm very grateful to my Father in Heaven for each of you & look forward to seeing your smiling faces & dancing eyes once again. I continually keep you in my prayers & my heart. I will forever love to hear "Steal Away" because I can see you skating to it on the old patio & your creative routines!! Love you so!

Heavens Blessing to ya...


Mom