Clothes, clothes and more clothes!

I has started to warm up here a bit so I decided that I had better get the spring and summer clothes out and washed for the kids to wear on warm days. I started with Kayla's clothes because I needed to get them out of the storage box and find out what she has and what she needs. Cayden has his shirts hanging up already so it was easy to see what he had already and I got rid of the size 5 when the weather got cooler. I knew his task was far easier then Kayla's was. I find starting with the harder task first is better for me. Here is Cayden "helping" me sort through the clothes. He pretty much just moved my piles around making the task take twice as long, but we had fun. Kayla thought it was time for dress up and she put on this skirt that is a bit short and this hat that goes to a dress that will fit her. She is such a silly girl!

Here is the pile of clothes that will fit for spring. I have been so blessed! I was really worried about not being able to get her clothes cuz money is very tight, but look at all this. I do not have to buy a thing! These were all donated to me by my sister and my sister in laws. I am so thankful for everyone that helped me out without knowing it. I was able to get most of the stained out of things that were super cute and I did not to put them in the to donate pile. The three boxes behind this pile were all donated too. They are size 6-9 months and 12 month clothes. I really have been so blessed! The lord is watching out for us and helping us in tiny ways every day. I can not express how thankful I am!

Here is my little princess. She was getting ready to go see grandpa. I told her we were leaving and to get her toy to take in the car. She grabbed her purse and said "keys" , so without looking I handed them to her. I turned around and saw this little princess looking super cute and all ready to go!

February ~summed up in photos~

February has gone by so fast. I hardly had time to catch up. I was able to snap a few photos of the kids. I made waffles one morning and Kayla started using the fork to comb her hair. We had not seen The Little Mermaid, so I am not sure what she was thinking other then it was fun at the time. Here is Jared with Kayla. She wanted some of his cereal so he put her on his lap and was feeding her. She loved every minute of it.

This year was Cayden's first Valentines Day party. This was the valentine that he brought home for me!

He was suppose to bring his own valentine box from home. He mentioned to me that one of his friends had brought in a monster box, so I looked online for something different. The results were this cute Zune with headphones. The ribbon has cotton balls attached for the headphones. It worked and since we did it late at night before it was due I thought it tuned out great!

Cayden's treat box was so full that he said, "Mom I am gonna have a tummy ache if I eat all of this." He decided to share his treats with Kayla. She loved the suckers and wanted more as soon as she finished one.

It was so nice outside that the kids could play in the afternoon without jackets on. Cayden was playing with Copper and put him in the back of the 4 wheeler (another Savers buy for $20). He was having fun with Cadyen pulling him allover the backyard, so much in fact that Kayla was mad that he would not pull her around too!

I finally made time for crafts and finished this bow board for Kayla's room. I was sure that the board would make plenty of room for all of the bows and flowers that I have been making for her. This was super easy, I took a painting canvas and covered it with batting and then a cute fabric and secured it to the back with a staple gun. Then attached coordinating ribbon with a staple gun. That was it. 30 minutes tops!

Here is the finished product hanging in her room. I have made way more bows and flowers then will fit on one board. I am going to have to make another one very soon! I love the way it looks hanging in her room.

The biggest happening this month was we finally got rid of the binkie! It was not a fun time for any of us, but it finally happened. Now it is one less thing that we have to remember when we go anywhere. I am so glad that it is gone. I am always so bugged by kids that are walking around in public with binkies in their mouths. Kayla was allowed to keep her binkie much longer then the boys were. I am not sure why other then she is the baby and I have been much more lenient with her.

That is the summary of our month! Hope you enjoy keeping up with us.

Savers Shoes

So, I have a new favorite thing. I was introduced to it when I first moved here from Utah last year. It is Savers! I love shopping here for stuff. You never know what you are going to find there. Yes, it is a thrift store but the sell top of the line stuff that is very gently used. For instance I found these totally cute shoes for Kayla for $3.99 and was not sure if I wanted to spend quite that much on shoes. Well, I talked myself into it and she loves them. I decided to look online and find out how much they are in the store and figure out my savings. They are $51.95 if they are not on sale. I did find them on sale for $35.99. I do believe that I have gotten my monies worth out of them, she wants to wear them everyday whether they match or not. I have to hide them if they do not match and she forgets about them soon and will wear something that does match!

Epiphanie

I was playing on facebook today and came across this:

EPIPHANIE IS GIVING AWAY A CANON 5D MARK II, OR A $2500 AIRLINE GIFT CARD. GO TO THE BLOG FOR DETAILS ON HOW YOU COULD WIN! :) EPIPHANIE IS GIVING AWAY A BRAND NEW CANON MARK II or $2500 AIRLINE GIFT CARD! GO TO THE BLOG FOR DETAILS! :) http://tinyurl.com/yejcmkl

Of course I am making sure that I do all I can to win some free stuff. Time will tell if I win or not. It would be super cool to have the camera and a fun bag to put it in :)

Short Update

So, it has been almost forever since I last posted or even logged onto my blog. I am thinking that I am just too busy to do this right now. I have been working 4 days a week and 12 hour shifts. Now that does not sound like much until you add that I have a 75 minute commute to work and then another 75 minutes to get home. That adds up to a 15 hour day. I know, I am complaining.
Well, Blaine has finally found a job working for a trucking company. He will be driving truck and making deliveries as they need him. I used to complain that he had a loser job when he was a truck driver before, but now that we have gone 5 months with him unemployed (without unemployment benefits), I am just so thankful that he was able to find something.
Kayla and Cayden are going to start at a daycare tomorrow. Kayla has NEVER been to a daycare or babysitter before. We have been so fortunate to have been able to either be with her or have family be with her. After hours of researching and interviewing, we found a daycare that will transport Cayden to school, keep Kayla in the baby room until she is a little bigger and they seem to be the best qualified. I am very nervous about it, but I know that it is the right thing for us right now.
Josh and Jared are still plugging along with school as long as I keep hounding them to get their homework done. They could be doing better, but I am trying to accept the fact that I can not control how they perform at school, I can just execute punishments and rewards when they get home. It is a difficult thing for an overprotective mother to learn, and slowly I am learning.
My family is still struggling and growing and facing huge challenges daily. We are praying for the best and expecting to just resolve the major issue that is going on. Hopefully by the end of April we will have a resolution and be able to deal with the result.
I will have more time in a month and will post all of the fun photos of our happenings. I promise to make this a fun thing to stay up to date with the Murdock clan!

Sad News

So, after Blaine has spent the last 4 months working so hard on getting his business started, he was able to run it for only 30 days before his financial partner pulled out. For some strange reason his partner thought that he would see an income after less then 30 days. I am not sure what reality he is living in that he thought you can see a return after 30 days on a new business, but he pulled out all financial support. Needless to say the business has closed. Blaine is very devastated and we are both hoping that his employment search will be very short and successful. I am so grateful that I am able to support our family with my income alone. I have to work 4- 12 hour shifts to do it but at least we are not struggling as some families are in this day and time. I know that Blaine is very sad, but I think he is grateful that he will not have to be the stay at home dad. It is driving him crazy!

The Best of 2009

As this year is quickly approaching an end, I am reflecting back on the bests of this year.

1. We moved away from the snow and cold to warm and sunny Queen Creek, AZ. For those who are not sure of where this is, it is in the greater Phoenix area in southern Arizona. I am so excited to not be shoveling snow off my driveway anymore. I love that I was able to wear short sleeves for Thanksgiving. Most of all I love that I am close to most of my family here.

2. Blaine made his dream of being a business owner, come true. December 1, 2009 was the first day of business for Murdock Logistics. he started with 2 semi trucks with 53 foot trailers and 2 truck drivers and has them running freight all over the country. He was able to do this with an investor to fund the operation and because he was laid off. I am sure the Lord was watching out for us when this happened. If he was working, he would have never done this venture.

3. Joshua started high school. Although not on my top ten list (I really am starting to feel old now), it is on Josh's. He was so excited to start high school and meet new friends. Mainly he wanted to play high school football. His dream came true when he made the JV team at his high school. This is only the second year his school has been open and they did not have sports last year due to the lack of students. Josh was playing the starting defensive line and helped his team achieve the first victory for the school's football team. His father also made a trip out to watch him play this year which was one of Josh's highlights.

4. Jared started junior high. Again this thing where my kids are growing up is making me feel really old. Jared was so excited to be in junior high. He was on the football team also. His school did a flag football team and they played all over the valley. Jared loved being part of the team even though he did not play that much. He tried hard and his father was able to make it to his last game of the season. This was a huge deal for Jared, and the coach even let him play a bit more during that game.

5. Cayden started full day kindergarten. He did not get to finish preschool because we moved in March, so I was concerned that he was not up to the level he needed to be for kindergarten, but he surprised us and has done so well. He was one of the first 5 people in his class to get into the 100 club. That is where you can count to and write to 100. They had a small ceremony at the end of the semester for all of the kids that were in the 100 club. Blaine was able to go and see Cayden get his award. Cayden has made so many friends and loves his teacher. I am so thankful that he was able to attend this school!

6. Kayla turned 1. Our little princess has gotten so big! She is finally in the 5th percentile for weight (up from the 1st percentile at 9 months)! She is finally wearing 18 month clothes at 19 months. She finally has hair that can be put into 2 ponytails and stay for more then a few minutes without tons of mouse and hairspray! My baby girl is growing up. We thought she had outgrown her milk allergy, but she started having symptoms again so she is now on soy. she seems to be doing well with that and I am so thankful she does not have to be on something hypoallergenic!

7. My mom and I are finally building a relationship. After my whole life of being envious of others who could tell their moms everything and wanted their moms to be the first to know special secrets, I am starting to have that same relationship with my mom. I took an awful situation to make it happen, but we are making lemonade out of lemons and building our relationship.

8. We the first Whittle Thanksgiving get together. This included my uncle Mike and his whole family and all but one of my brothers and all of our families. There were 31 people there. WOW!!! It is the first time that we have ever gotten together since the kids left home. There were 3 grand kids that had to go to another parents house for that holiday and my dad who was not able to attend, were there in spirit. Since I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters and my uncle has 2 children and all but one sister has children of their own, that was lot of Whittle family members in one place.

9. I have been able to reconnect with many lost friends through facebook. I was so excited when I was able to find people that I had lost touch with on facebook and write short notes to catch up or just view photos of their families. What an amazing thing the Internet is. I also have been able to reconnect with my grandmary via email!

10. My husband and I celebrated our 8th anniversary this year. I am married to such an amazing man. He is so wonderful to me and puts up with all of my grouchiness and orneriness. He has been such a rock during our struggles this past year and I never could thank him enough for all that he does! He has become Mr. MOM while he has been building his business, and even though I give him a hard time, he has done a wonderful job of coordinating the kids' schedules and making sure things get done at home. He has even become quite the cook!

There are many things that did not make the top ten list but these were the highlights. There were also many sad and trying times that we have struggled through, but overall we have had a wonderful year and have grown so close. Trials bring us strength! Thank you to all who have kept us in your thoughts and prayers.