Pre School Rules

Well he's off to another year of pre school.

We have been counting down for the last week with a little paper chain. Corbin got to rip off one link every morning.

Today all I had to do to wake him up {at 6:30} was turn off his fan (I'm sure that will get harder as 6:30 gets earlier and earlier). Today he popped right up and said,"I pull off blue one today, ". Yes, blue was the last link of the count down. Yep, that means that today is the first day of school.

As I got him dressed he told me some of the rules at school "take your thumb out or time out" (Corbin is still a thumb sucker) and "don't hit, be nice boy" and "No milk or eggs" (his food allergy's to watch out for).

Last year I had a very hard time leaving him at school.

So this year Dad did it.

I just packed his backpack , we all said a little good morning prayer and off they went.

Now, I can't wait to see the bus pull up and hear how his day was. I hope it ends as happy as it started.

How many cans can a canner can if a canner can can cans?

My food storage has officially began. I know I'm a late bloomer. Our emergency plan has always been - get to my moms house.

But I realize that we have our own little family to be prepared for.

When Erin invited me to go to the cannery with her I jumped at the chance.

Today was the big day.

Now I officially have:

1 case of white rice

1 case of pinto beans

1 1/2 cases of potato flakes

1 case of quick oats

1 case of macaroni

1 case of dried apple slices

3 cans of dried carrots

1 can of dried onions

15-20 gallons of water

I think that everything I bought has a shelf life of about 30 years. I know it's not a year supply yet, maybe not even a 3 month supply but at least it's something.

It's so wonderful to me how following the Prophet's counsel feels so good. It didn't even hurt writing the check to pay for all that.

Now I just have to find a place to keep all this stuff.

Penny Pincher

For months before Cooper turned one I was looking forward to the day I could stop buying formula and bottles and gas drops. I would day dream of all the things I would be able to spend my extra money on.

pedicures, facials, new clothes (for me), things for the house...

Then I woke up!

Kids don't get less expensive as they get older, they get more.

Their toys cost more, their clothes cost more, their food costs more, their fun cost more....

So in the last few months my receipts from Target haven't gotten any smaller, but Cooper keeps getting bigger.

And he is worth every penny.

Happy Birthday Corbin

So....Corbin seems to have this "I turning 4" thing down. Tuesday July 29 was Corbin's 4th birthday. He was so excited to wake up to the house all decorated for his party. We did a Hot Wheels theme. He is totally into race tracks right now. So he thought it was about the greatest thing ever. All of Derek's family come over that evening for dinner and cake. It was a house full of family and fun.

It was actually today, July 31, 2004 that we first met our little Corbin, there in the hospital nursery. The nurse was just about to give him a bottle, when she found out that we were going to be his mom and dad she handed him to me.

What a moment.

Holding him for the first time.

I couldn't hold back the tears.

We had a whirlwind couple of days.

Corbin was born on a Thursday.

That evening our Case Worker called to tell us that a baby boy had been born and that we had been chosen by his birth parents to adopt him and could we come pick him up at the hospital Saturday.

We were stunned. We had only been officially approved and ready to wait for a baby for a couple weeks. We expected it to take months before someone had chosen us and then we thought we would have a few months to really get ready.

But Corbin had a different plan, he was in a hurry, he came 6 weeks early and we were in shock.

Both Derek and I went to work the next day, Friday, to let them know that we probably wouldn't back for a while. And then spent the evening buying a few basics, like a car seat and bottles.

Suddenly, before we could even wrap our heads around what was really happening, there we were looking at our son.

He was perfect...tiny...but perfect.

We still feel so amazed that he is ours.

We love July 29th, Corbin was born.
We love July 31st, Corbin came home with us.