I want this

I have the 4 kids that I nanny 24/7 this week. Their dad works in North Dakota two weeks on two weeks off, and their mom is on a trip in California. We are on day three out of five, so I am more than halfway done. I have had three people tell me that doing this is great birth control, but all that I can think is, "I want this."

I am currently listening to the three boys play some made up game with a blanket, and I love it. I love the laughter and joy that they get from such a simple game.

We went to Sams Club last night in a Suburban and bought six icees. As we were driving home listening to Despicable Me 2 playing, I couldn't help but think how fun it was.

I've helped with homework, and helped Ruger with his letters and sounds so that he can hopefully get his alphabet crown.

I've been handcuffed and thankfully let go more times than you can imagine.

I've watched Tom & Jerry, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Camp Rock, Paw Patrol, Scooby Doo, Team Umizoomi, Bubble Guppies, and probably a couple other shows.

I've given baths and had my pants soaked in the process.

I've been woken up by little boys going to the bathroom, and shutting our bedroom door so that they don't wake us.

I've gone through all of their names to eventually get to the name of the child that I was talking to. Doesn't help that all of the boys' names end in 'er'. Hunter, Ruger, Bridger, and baby on the way, Sawyer.

I've gotten kids on the bus and picked them up from the after school program.

Sorry it's a bit  blurry, but she can't sit still.

I've spent half an hour braiding wet hair so that it will be wavy for school the next day.

I've gotten countless hugs and "squishy face."

I've made kids stand with their nose on the wall for doing something they shouldn't have.

I've made four cups of chocolate milk and four ham sandwiches at a time.

I know it isn't all fun and games. Believe me, I know that it isn't, but I also know that the good and the fun has always outweighed any of the bad that I have had with these kids.

I might not want to jump into having four kids ages 3-8, but I wouldn't mind starting out with one. If children come before I am finished with my degree, then so be it. I know that I would still get my degree, and I would be absolutely ecstatic to enjoy these things every day while getting it. I just know that whenever we do have children I will be more than ready because I truly want this.

This is not meant to be taken as "we're trying to have children and hope it happens right now." So please don't take it that way and get ideas in your head. 

First dance craft

This is a super easy and cheap craft to make. I used this tutorial as inspiration and guidance.

I found the lyrics online and then pasted them a couple of times on a word page in landscape orientation. I bolded and italicized certain phrases that are my favorite. I printed it on white card stock, and then I printed the tree over it. (tree pdf in the link above) Then I cut out the tree and used double sided tape to adhere it to another page of white card stock. I used an expo marker to outline the edges of the tree, but you could use pretty much anything to outline it.

I had some thin white string that I brushed over with red marker to make it stand out more. I looped it over a branch and secured it where I knew each heart would go. I cut my hearts out with a cricut at 1 inch. I used a regular black pen to write our names on the hearts because that was the best thing I had.

And that's all that I did. Serious, so easy! It cost me four dollars for the frame and everything else I already had. I love the sentimental meaning that it has to us, and that it is a subtle reminder of the memories that were made as those lyrics played at our wedding reception.

Taylor's 23rd Birthday

Birthdays when you're married are so fun! I loved getting to spend the day with him, reminding him that it was his birthday a million times, and getting to eat his tasty treats. Poor boy had to work on his birthday, but I tried to make it special. I gave him bubble bath because the boy loves his baths, and next month he will get to upgrade his phone as his major birthday present.

I snuck into his car while he was on break at work and filled it with balloons. As I was reaching over the drivers seat I accidentally leaned on the horn and was so afraid that someone would come out and check their car that I didn't get all of the balloons into his car. But it still worked out, and he was surprised.

We went to the Outback Steakhouse for dinner since we still had a gift card. Taylor got free ice cream for it being his birthday, but we didn't eat too much of it because we had cake at home. This was our first time ever eating there, and I feel like we had to of missed something because we didn't think it was all that great.

I made better than sex cake for myself him, and I even had him blow out candles even though it was just the two of us. We relaxed at home the rest of the night, which was perfect since our lives have seemed to be a bit extra hectic lately.

It was so us

Our Valentine's day was so perfect and so us. It was the first Valentine's day that we got to celebrate with each other since last Valentine's day we lived two hours apart.

 It really started on Thursday since I made heart shaped sugar cookies for when he got back from his business trip that Taylor was one this week. He came home in the afternoon with a laundry basket full of clean work clothes. He asked me to put them away, and I replied with some response filled with attitude about why he couldn't do it himself since I had already unpacked his suitcase that he had dropped off earlier. Anyway, under his clothes I found a bag with a Willow Tree in it. I told him weeks ago when we stopped at Porters that I wanted to get one for my birthday or something, and he remembered! And he went to a craft store all by himself which he can't even stand going when he goes with me. How freaking cute is he!?

I got some candy for Taylor,and I was planning on being cute and sneaking it into his car while he was at work so that he would be surprised when he got in it. Unfortunately, it was raining all day and the car that I was left with doesn't have a driver's side wiper so I had to scratch the idea. I just gave them to him, and he found it hilarious that that happened. I also made him some chocolate covered and chocolate filled strawberries because he is awesome and he deserved them.

"This is my better side."

So much pico and so good! If it is your first date I wouldn't suggest sharing nachos because they aren't the most attractive to eat.

We still had a gift card that we received for Christmas to Outback so we thought perfect time time to use it. Well we got there at 6:15 to an hour and a half wait. Uh, no thanks. Next idea was Texas Roadhouse because we have a coupon for there with unlimited uses. Well we had to stop home to get the coupon, and at 6:40 the Roadhouse also had an hour to an hour and a half wait. We should have known better, I know. I really wanted to have a nice sit down dinner since we rarely have them, but at this point I knew that wasn't going to happen. We settled with Costa Vida, and once I had food in my belly it didn't seem to matter anymore.

The number next to the hole that I wrote is the par just to show how terrible we are. 

We then went and played mini golf and some arcade games. I definitely kicked Taylor's butt at mini golf, and the stupid key master game kicked both of our butts. It was one dang good night with my handsome man.

(I only say that it was so us because on Christmas day we came home early, and we wanted to get McDonald's for dinner since it was a long, not the best day and of course it was closed. Talk about a smack in the face when you can't even get McDonald's when the day hasn't already gone like you had hoped. Basically the important days never go like we think they will for us)

Why we work

We work because Taylor eats all of my cooking and doesn't complain when I make lazy freezer meals a couple times a week instead of cooking real food.

We work because I roll my eyes at all of Taylor's puns, and because I truthfully love how much they make him happy.

We work because Taylor hates pickles so he gives me the pickles off of his burgers, and rarely complains about the smell when I eat them.

We work because we work together to teach eight-year-olds every Sunday about the Savior, and because we choose to have a marriage that is Christ centered.

We work because we both think that we are absolutely hilarious, and aren't afraid to laugh at our own awesome jokes.

We work because he takes the "Always kiss me goodnight" sign above our bed seriously, and he hasn't missed a night yet.

We work because he shares a love of Pennsylvania with me.

We work because I make him keep his work clothes in the second bedroom, and keep his dirty work clothes in my old pink laundry basket. And because I listen to what he has to say about work even though I don't know what he is talking about half the time.

We work because he spends all of our money on new tools, and I spend our money on clothes.

We work because whenever I dump cold water on Taylor when he is in the shower he always gets me back for it.

We work because he lets me tell him all about Grey's Anatomy, and he even pretends to listen and mildly care about it.

We work because he is willing to help my dad with chores while we are vacationing, and when no one else wanted to go sailing with my dad Taylor went with him and honestly loved it.

We work because we were both raised to be hard workers, and don't expect any less from each other.

We work because we don't listen to the world. We don't care about what anyone else has to say about us, our marriage, or any part of our lives. We do things the way we want, and we aren't worried about what anyone has to say.

We work because we say the same exact thing half of the time, and we both love to shorten words.

We work because whenever he wants to buy something that is a bit expensive I say, "Well you make more money than me so you can buy it if you want." So he buys it, I get over it, and life goes on.

We work because we have pizza every Friday and never get sick of it.

We work because we would do absolutely anything for each other. We try our best to make each other happy, and we both fight for our marriage.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Linking up with The Life of Bon for this!

6 Freezer Meals Follow Up

This is a follow up post to this post that I did a few months ago. Some of the recipes were successes and some of them were not so successful.

Hearty beef stew.
This was super good, and it made a lot. I think that there was enough left overs for Taylor to take to work for the next two days. He says that this one was his favorite. I would make this again in a heart beat.

Chicken Teriyaki.

Not too bad. The pineapple tasted really good, and I liked the carrots as well. We didn't really have any leftovers of this one since I only made it with two chicken breasts.

Ham and scalloped potatoes. 

Pretty good. I left this to thaw in the sink the night before and in the morning the potatoes were black and soggy when I woke up. I just took them out and chopped some new ones and it turned out fine. I would make this one again.

Sweet and sour chicken

I don't know what I did wrong with this one, but it was not good at all. I forgot to turn the crock pot on before we left for church so I cooked it on high for a shorter time instead of on low for a longer time. Maybe that is why it tasted bad... I don't even think that either of us could finish it it was just not good. 

Honey chicken

Taylor liked this one more than I did. It wasn't bad. I feel like I'm being under enthusiastic about it, but I would probably made it again. I do wish that there was more to it, meaning veggies or something. 

Hawaiian Chicken
This tastes a lot better than it looks. It had good flavor to it. 

A Minor Accident

This Saturday Taylor and I had the chance to go snowboarding again. We went with his brother and two of his roommates. The weather was a bit cold, but otherwise perfect. About halfway done the mountain on our first run down Johnathan(roommate) accidentally ran into tackled me. I saw him coming at the last minute and put my hands up to try and protect myself. I probably would have been better if I just took the hit because it ended up hurting my thumb.

Swollen up right after it happened, and bruised two days later. I know it doesn't look like much, but it was so swollen in person and I definitely don't bruise easily. 

Now I know what you're thinking.. Really Rachel? A poor hurt thumb is worthy of a blog post? My answer would be no, but I've never broken, sprained, or dislocated anything before. I've had more than my fair share of stitches and staples, and even had a chunk of my hair ripped out by a kitchen aid, but this was a new kind of pain for me. Baton twirling was my sport growing up, and you don't usually get more than bruises, burnt hair, and headaches from twirling.

To top the night off I forgot my jacket (I wore a fleece jacket up there) so we split Taylor's in half.

Of course it was on our first run, but I wasn't about to waste the money that we spend for me to snowboard so I sucked it up and went on with the night. I don't have any clue what I did to it, but it still hurts. The worst thing is that it hasn't gotten me out of doing the dishes or any other chores. I didn't realize that life without a thumb can be so hard.

It was gorgeous on our first ride up the ski lift

I didn't have to work yesterday so today is my first day wearing jeans since it happened. I thought pulling up my sweatpants was a task so let's see how buttoning my jeans go. haha Maybe TMI, but it is what it is.