In the mood to scrap + Easter & random fun

First of all I just have to mention Conference. I was amazed at the focus on family and overcoming trials. I guess it is really time to prepare our families for what is to come! The only way we are going to survive these times is to focus inward and get ourselves and those we love ready to face the hard times ahead. I loved the family focus though really. I need all the help I can get. I find it so interesting that the speakers are not given a theme, but somehow there always seems to be one! God sends his messages well! I am always so grateful to listen to the prophet and all our leaders and refocus on what's most important. Conference always leaves me feeling renewed and rededicated. I wish the feeling would stick a little longer, but like all powerful spiritual experiences, it will fade and we will have to rely on our own foundations!

Over Easter/Conference weekend Minde (my sister-in-law) and I decided to have some down time after all the kiddos were in bed and scrap some pics we took for Easter.

This one is of Ragan in the snowy wyoming weather hunting for eggs. This is a picture of the real page and doesn't do it much justice but it turned out really cute! Also it got me in the mood to scrap, which I haven't done for awhile!

These two are for our yearly Family Scrap Pages for the Julander Family Scrapbook (Minde's idea) I love this idea, I wish I could get my family to do it too. I tried one year. It was kinda a flop! Kat and Janna did it but everyone else bummed out! Oh well I tried!

This is one of the pics I've been excited to scrap for Dal's first year book ( I know I'm a bit behind!) I love this picture of my mommy! She is such a sweet lady! I couldn't ask for a better mom!

While in Wyoming Ragan fell in love! With Tiki my niece Caitlyn's dog! Ragan is an animal lover through and through. She just can't get enough. I'm sure by the end of three days that sweet little dog had had enough, but Ragan enjoyed every mauling minute!

She also discovered another "fun" thing...the scissors. I thought I would avoid this fiasco because we've had lots of talks about mommy being the expert hair cutter, but apparently she's just too curious. She figured she must know how since she's watche mommy a lot???? Luckily it caused minor damage. She took a chunk out of the under part of her bangs, part it just right and you can barely tell she did it! I'm just glad it was just bangs. I would hate to cut off all her beautiful hair!

BATMAN (and princess) T-SHIRTS

James somehow got it in his head that he wanted to make himself a batman tshirt? He kept asking if he could paint a shirt grey and put batman on it. I don't know exactly what he had in mind, but I thought that these turned out cute. Oh and of course Ragan couldn't have batman, she had to have princess. Although she wasn't very happy when I added the word princess to her shirt, apparently she liked it better with just the crown. Her face says it all!

We also had a little more fun with the face paints. We had quite the crowd that day!

Teasing weather, crafts, prego belly & a sewing day!!! WHEW!

I think I go in spurts with my blogging; it seems there's always a time when I have to play catch up!

The month of March and I have a love/hate relationship! I love it because, well, it's my birthday month and I have to admit I love a day that is all about me, I always have. But I don't like the weather in March quite so much. It is always a teasing month. I am always ready for the warm weather about this time of year, but it seems mother nature is moody in March. Last week we were so excited to have a warm enough and dry enough day to have family night at the park. The kids were in heaven! It was still jacket worthy weather but warm enough for fun. Then today it snowed ALL DAY LONG! I hate snow in March, it's extra depressing. But I do seem to get a lot done on dreary days like these when we're forced to stay indoors. The only problem is my kids get bored and destroy anything I accomplish?! These pics are from our family night. All the kids attempted bike riding. If any of you have tips on teaching two wheels let me know. James is a little timid when it comes to stuff that includes some...bravery. Really though, any tips would be appreciated.

My kids love craft time lately, especially Ragan. She gets an idea in her head and doesn't stop talking about it until we create it! This week she wanted to make cereal necklaces. These fruit loop favorites didn't last very long. We got special fruit loops with marshmellows, but the marshmellows just fell apart when we tried to string them on??? Ragan was a little disappointed, but she soon forgot when she started enjoying her crafty treat!

This picture was requested by my sweet sister that is stuck in Brazil and doesn't get to witness my enormity first hand. Sarah, I told you I wasn't lying about my hugeness! I can't imagine what I'll look like in three more months! (Dallin loves to touch "baby sister")

Today, during the horrible snowy weather I decided to find something to occupy my time besides cleaning blah! So I was searching blogs. I came upon Crystal Freeman's and found this fabulous idea! I was going to forgo Easter clothing due to budget and the fact that Easter Sunday falls on conference, but when I saw this fun idea I couldn't resist! Thanks Crystal. You use an old men's collar shirt and transform it into a beautiful Easter dress! I actually used two old shirts and made ties to coordinate for my boys. So fun!

While I was in sewing mode, I made these curtains. My kiddos have been having a rough time falling asleep at bedtime since the time change. They go to bed at 7:30 and that means that now it is still light outside. SO I decided it was time for some curtains. Again budget discouragement occured, especially because each room has two huge windows. BUT I got the hanging wires from IKEA for $5 each and the fabric totaled $36 (double lined to keep the sun out) So the grand total was $56. Sounds like alot, but all other options we looked into were closer to $75 for all four windows. So I feel I did pretty good!

A Final Decision!!!

yeah the name game is officially over and the winner is....

Mayci Debra Julander

I know it hasn't even made the lists before, but we thought of it and it just clicked. I love it when that finally happens. And I love having a name to call her instead of the baby! Also I love that I am finally under 100 days on the count down. This pregnancy is dragging. I already feel a bit on the whale-ish side. I can't believe I have three months to expand my waist line. I can't imagine it getting much bigger! Oh well, she will be well worth it! I love babies. I can't wait to hold her in my arms.

Random Pictures

I almost forgot to add the picture of our newest addition! I told mom

I would post this picture cause it is so perfect. I can already tell she

looks like James' baby pics! 4D ultrasounds amaze me!

Dressed up in a tutu all on his own (Daddy was so proud!)

They call me captain underpants!

I love my kids, they make me smile!

A Happy 28th!

Today is my 28th birthday. I had a fabulous day! I awoke to the cutest kiddos in the world yelling happy birthday and surprise. Telling about it does not do it justice, you have to hear Dallin's surprise to really get the giggles! I loved it! Also when I awoke there was a wonderful aroma filling my home. Pete had gotten up really early to clean the kitchen and make me the biggest omlet ever made! (of course I couldn't eat it all!) and my favorite "foamy orange juice" You just blend it to mix it and it foams, I love it! I wish I had gotten a breakfast picture, it was beautiful and scrumptious! Then I got to hang out with my fam all day, because Pete had a work from home day (he didn't get much work done!) He and Ragan went shopping while Dal took and nap and I got the longest shower that I have had in a long long time! Usually my showers are jump in jump out and hope nothing has been destroyed in that three minute period!

Pete made my favorite dinner, many of you have tasted...fennel chicken with lemon sage vinagrette, garlic mashed potatoes with chives and broccoli! Mmm Mmm Good! I love it! Then we headed off to the temple for a date night long needed and a spiritual uplift also much needed and too long delayed! We got home about 8:30 already an hour past bedtime, but we had to have some of the made from scratch by Pete Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cake and icecream. YUM! The kids finally got to bed about 9:30 after singing me "Happy Birthday Cha Cha Cha" Oh and after a little mishap with the face paints.

Holly Mahoney sent me a face painting kit for my birthday, so we tried it out this afternoon. The faces looked great, but it didn't come off as easily as it said it would. I had to go borrow some eye makeup remover from my friend Brandy, because I don't own any and soap and baby wipes just wouldn't cut it!

Here are some fun pictures from my perfect day! Enjoy...I know I did!

More on the Name Game!

Well I came home from work today to a decision made by Pete and the kiddos on the baby name. They decided on Lorelei Debra Julander... I am not completely convinced, but who knows maybe it will grow on me. My newest choice is Cambrie and Pete still likes Harley. Ragan still loves Layla but was satisfied with Lorelei. Pete showed me a whole new list that he found today. I think the only one that made the cut from the last list was Layla. Claire was just too popular! I have a thing against popular names since my name has been in the top ten names for decades! I hate baby naming, they should come with a name tatooed on their rear ends like cabbage patch dolls!

Cast your votes:

Lorelei

Cambrie

Harley

Layla

Kimberely

Peyton

Gabrielle

Naomi

Kinley

Brylee (Briley)

Evie

I know we have far too many choices, but I like outside opinions so help us out!

Bad day turned GREAT!

So yesterday was just one of those ordinary days. Not great, a little boring, didn't accomplish much, kinda felt....blah! Until Pete came home, a little later than normal, but with the mail in hand. I wasn't in the best mood and was rushing to be ready for Young Womens. But as he opened the mail, he got a big grin on his face. I saw the envelope was from Weber....

WAHOO! PETE GOT ACCEPTED TO THE RESPIRATORY THERAPY PROGRAM!!!!!!!

We couldn't be more excited. I told him the day this happened I'd throw a party! I felt like calling everyone I know. I know it's not as exciting to everyone else, but I couldn't be happier! There is finally an end in sight. No more professional student thoughts! Only two more years to a career and some financial security!!!! YIPEE! I am so proud of him and I can't wait till graduation day!