Dishwashers

You have probably heard of too many cooks in the kitchen...
...but have you ever heard of too many dishwashers?

Wake Up!

You know it was a good nap when you wake up with bedhead and blanket lines all over your face.

Jobless Part 2

I've been putting off blogging about this but I guess it's time to let everyone know...Sean lost his job two weeks ago putting us both at home and unemployed...again. Last time I wrote about this, Sean had a job the next day so I didn't even need to write about it and I was hoping that would be the case this time as well. Maybe it's good karma, to put it out there in the universe, letting everyone know that we are having a rough time (although, technically, I don't actually believe in karma. For more information on what I do believe click here).

Sean and I have had a harder time this go around. The economy is in such a state that there isn't much out there and when we do get a lead it turns out that the company is no longer hiring for that position because their funding has been cut. It is hard to stay positive when so much negativity is all around.

I know that Heavenly Father will provide for us but we've discovered that we are very impatient. We want to know when and how right now, but last I checked, God doesn't work on our timetable. So we are working hard to be patient and we'll keep you posted.

Jillian!

I haven't done a Jillian-centric post for awhile. Jillian's becoming a real character lately. She jabbers away to anyone who will listen (actually, she doesn't even need an audience. She'll jabber to herself quite contently). She's starting to stand on her own and will walk around as long as she has a piece of furniture or a hand to grasp.

This is her standing on her own. She'll stand up if Sean or I will let go of her and she's got her balance. It helps when she's wearing these jeans (they're kinda stiff and hold her up) and shoes.

She climbed into her "toybox" all on her own (it's just a little cardboard box that we throw her toys in at the end of the day). Sean and I got a kick out of it so of course had to take a picture.

Jillian and her mom being a little bit silly.

Just a little video of Jillian playing with her toys.

Surprise

As Sean and I were getting ready for church this morning we got a call from one of the counselors in the bishopric asking us if he could meet with us right before church. We knew this could only mean one thing...NEW CALLINGS! As we went in and were speculating on what we could possible be called to. This counselor is over the primary so we assumed it would be something with the kiddies. Much to our surprise Sean and I were asked to be Den Leaders for the 9-year-old Cub Scouts. Immediately I started to laugh. I thought maybe he was joking. The more he talked the more I realized it was not a joke and then I wanted to cry! Sean and I are about the most inexperienced people when it comes to anything scouting. My family was not into scouts (that is until my youngest brother was old enough to do them and that was after I was out on my own). Sean got kicked out* of the Cub Scouts when he was a boy after a freak accident that was not his fault. But what can you do when the Lord calls you to do something? You say, "Yes," (or in our case, "Oh-kay?") and pray that you'll have some divine help. Wish us luck in our new endeavor. We start this week!

P.S. We were very relieved to find out that we would not be called into the nursery for the 4th time!


*Sean tells me he was not "kicked out" but was asked not to come back, same difference if you ask me.

Fortune Cookie Mix Up

Sean and I had Chinese for dinner a few weeks ago. I thought our fortunes were interesting.

I believe these fortunes describe us pretty accurately, Sean is pretty courageous and I am friendly. The only problem is I got the top fortune and Sean got the bottom one. Somehow these fortunes aren't so accurate when Sean has "a friendly heart" and "others seek " my "courage."

Happy Birthday Jillian!

Jillian's first birthday plans were as follows:

Get up and watch the Wonder Pets.

Play with toys while wearing new Elmo shirt.

Eat a cookie with dinner since we already did the cake thing last week.

Eye new toys.

Play with new toys.

Check out all the Birthday loot!

What a great 1st birthday!

Eating Cake

More birthday photos from Washington. I took 80+ pictures of Jillian eating her first birthday cake. I only posted six. Enjoy.

Birthday in Washington

OK, bear with me here. We celebrated Jillian's birthday while we were in Washington so the family could be there. This is the cake I made her.

Jillian with her grandmas "blowing" out her candles.

Jillian opening a book from the Jeppsons.

A doll from Grandma and Grandpa Porter.

Hanging out with Grandpa.


Wearing a tutu that I made for her.

"I know what to do with this."

Grandpa showing Jillian what she's supposed to do with the bottle.

A few Christmas photos

Some Christmas photos to tide you over until I get on to a real post...

The cousins on Christmas morning, Vance, Tanner, and Jillian.

In one of two Christmas outfits (luckily we had two as she had a blowout in one!). Uncle Eric is holding her up.

Grandma and Grandpa Porter with the grandkids. I think this picture is funny because the boys are both looking at Jillian...or at least in her general direction...while she smiles for the camera.

Jilly with Grandma Galland and Mitch.

My siblings and me. Aren't we a nice looking bunch?