Monthly Bill Tracker - Checklist

So....I hate bills, especially keeping track of them! Its my least favorite thing about being a grown up!

This is what I use to keep myself sane and eliminate this conversation with myself:
"Did I pay that bill?"
"I'm sure I did!"
"But wait, its not showing up on my bank statement."
"What day did I do it?"
"How much was it?"
"GRRRR!"

All of that is now GONE because of this lovely chart! (I know, its not really lovely...but if you like spreadsheets then it IS lovely. haha!)
In each monthly box, you can use the 'checkmark' method. But I usually write the date in there, and if there is room I will write the amount as well if its a different amount than usual.

If you want a copy, comment or email me and I'll send it to you!
**update** I lost my original copy of this. :-( bummer!

Kids Book of the Week: Frog and Fly

Why I picked this book: Owen saw it on the display shelf in the middle of the library and grabbed it!

What I liked about it: It was fun to read a silly book for a change.

Owen's reaction to the book: He giggled each time a new fly was "slurped" by the frog. He even made his own froggy-noises. :-) He thought it was hilarious when the frog got what was coming to him. I loved seeing him giggle at the book too. It was super fun to read it to him smile at the silly stories.

Recommend?YES! Both boys and girls would like reading this book. It is very simple for early readers to read by themselves.

Owen is 3 years + 10 months old.

 

Kids Book of the Week: A Tree Is Nice

Why I picked this book: because it received Caldecott Medal (which is an award for the illustrator).

What I liked about it:
The simple and informative words. Also, the artwork was very authentic, and all hand-drawn. Some black and white pages. Some full-color pages. It was different from the normal cartoon stuff in other books. I believe Owen noticed the difference as well.

Owen's reaction to the book:
Owen took time to look at all the trees. He showed me the different tree shapes and he noticed that some have leaves, and others do not. And after a few days of reading this book, we talked about what each of the kids are doing with/around the trees

It was an entertaining book, and as a BONUS I think it made him more aware of trees. Yahoo!

Owen is 3 years + 9 months old.

Kite Flying 101

Owen's first time flying a kite. Yes, it was everything he dreamed it would be!
He caught on FAST. Way to go buddy.
**I must say...raising My Little Owen has brought me the most challenging, rewarding, and joyful experiences of my life. Thank you little one, for making me a Mom.

 

 

Kids Book of the Week: Look! Another Book!

This week's favorite bedtime book was Look! Another Book! by Bob Staake.
Every time we read it, Owen found something new that fascinated him! Also, there are holes in the pages that show you what's coming up next. Super fun feature!

Toward the end of the week, we didn't even read the words. Owen was so busy looking for robots, donuts, helicopters, animals, monsters, and all kinds of silly stuff!
**Owen's attention span is usually short...but this book kept him entertained from start to finish!I liked the silly rhymes. It was fun for me to read to him.

I DEFINATELY RECOMMEND THIS CHILDREN 3 YEARS +UP!

Owen: 3 years + 9 monthsWe both loved this 'seek and find' book!

Kid's Book of the Week: I'm Dirty

 

This is a darling little book, that Owen requested many times this week!
Personality shines through this backhoe while he cleans up a dirty lot, and makes it nice and smooth. Owen giggled when he took a "mud bath" and came out SO dirty.

This is a perfect book for a 3 year old boy. And from a mother's point of view, I like anything that teaches my boy that cleaning can be fun.

Owen is 3 years + 9 months and thoroughly enjoyed this picture book.

This book has me excited to read other books by Kate and Jim McMullan :-) I'll be sure to post those as well if they make the cut!

Be sure to subscribe to my blog to receive updates each week as I post more kid's books!

Kids Book of the Week: Tip Tip Dig Dig (Best little boys book, ever!)

 

Best little boy's book ever!
My little boy is 3 years + 8 months. He loves this book! And why wouldn't he? Its full of all his favorite things! Dirt, dump trucks, backhoes, cranes.
 

There were a lot of repetitive words, which encouraged Owen to read along with me. It uses verbs in all tenses "tip, tips, and tipped", "dig, digs, and dug", "lift, lifts, lifted", etc...

Now, anytime we see a dump truck he shouts "TIP TIP TIP!" with our little hand movement we made up while reading.

I love that a good book has made a positive impact on my sweet little boy!

Kids Book of the Week: Monsters Love Colors

I liked this book just as much as my 3 year old. It's about some silly monsters that "dribble, scribble, mix, dance and wiggle" to make new colors. The illustrations are darling! Its not too long...so its perfect for his attention span.

BOOK REVEIW FROM A THREE YEAR OLD
Owen is 3 years + 8 months old
What's your favorite color?     Blue
Whats your favorite monster in the book?Green one. I want to give the Orange one big hug.
Do you want to read this book again?  Ya
Do you want your friends to read it?  No, not read my book.
Do you want to take it back to the library or keep it?  Keep it.

After reading the book a few times, he now helps me read the book by completing the sentences. We talk about our favorite colors frequently while reading.

This is our 2nd time checking this book out from the library. He liked it so much last month, that I decided to get it again and write about it.

Children Book Review inspired by my dear friend Kari. See her kids book reviews here.

Book Review: The Brothers: The Great & Terrible Series

I LOVE GOOD BOOKS. (Of course, who doesn't?)
This is one of those. One of the good ones.

I just finished this novel The Brothers by Chris Stewart. Its the first book in a series called The Great and Terrible.

Its a fictional account of the war in heaven before our mortal lives here on earth.

I truly believe that we are NOT mortal beings having spiritual experiences, but we are spiritual beings having a mortal experience. This book tugged at my spiritual heartstrings. What a great feeling I had after reading this book.

Great entertainment (LIKE THIS BOOK) makes you feel better after experiencing it!

My heart was pulled in several directions during this novel. Chris tells the story in such a realistic way. I felt like it was actually how the events took place, and I loved getting a glimpse into heaven for a couple hundred pages. Who knows, maybe he was inspired to write it for that purpose!

It was an intriguing, fast, and wonderful read. I recommend to everyone!
The Idaho Falls library has a waiting list for book #2. Must be a popular series! Great job to Chris Stewart for pulling me into his story and keeping me there.

Here is the description from and link to Amazon:
In the time before Creation, before so many of the children of God turned away from their Father and walked knowingly into the dark, there was a choosing, a sifting, a contest of ideas and a battle for souls. In that great premortal war, each of us learned the first lessons of life: The great ones may fall. The wicked can change. The weak and the foolish can become the strongest of all. And the battle between good and evil is the same regardless of the time or place. 
The Brothers is the first novel in a new series by national bestselling author Chris Stewart. The Great and Terrible takes us from the beginning of time to the final hours of the last days, revealing the greatest secret of all: The children of God can defeat the adversary, for we have fought him before.

What's with that eye?

I always wondered "WHY does Owen do that with his left eye?"
After going through some pictures today, I found the answer.

Do you think our kids destined to be little clones of us?

Pinto in July - The Ford Clan

I LOVE visiting Pinto, UT. Its a little cabin community, with inhabitants usually on holiday weekends in the summer.
I didn't take a lot of pictures this trip, I wanted to be involved in my vacation, not behind my camera lens the whole time. Do any of my fellow photographers feel this way sometimes? I didn't get pictures of everyone. Bummer! But oh well, I wasn't on the clock. haha
Activities this year included:
    -relaxing in hammocks
    -watch Kate "ALMOST" walk. Seriously, she is so close.
   -riding Uncle Dave & Aunt Korrie's 4 wheelers (BIG SHOUT OUT TO THEM!!! THANK YOU)
   -shooting a few arrows with the kids
   -tying a quilt for Kendall & Kira's family.
   -decorating clipboards - fun craft idea mom! (they kinda look like these clipboards)
   -sleeping in a tent with my 2 kids, we opted out of sleeping in the beautiful red cabin this year.
   -eating yummy food and eating lots of treats

 

 

Kira & Scotti are hard at work on their clipboards.

Grandma betty has the CUTTEST craft paper and ribbons.

 

Kendall and Kira working on the quilt.

Almost everyone was involved in making the quilt in some way. I even saw Dillon with a needle and yarn at one point. What a stud.
This was such a fun activity to do as a family, and knowing it would be keeping

Kendall & Kira's family warm this winter made it ALL the more FUN!

 

 

In case you are wondering, I had to hand the camera to Brian and say "take a picture

of me doing this, I want to remember I was here too". HA!

That's the only way I get in pictures these days.

 

 

 

They are best friends. REALLY. Its So. Darn. Cute.

 

Owen loved waking up and realizing he was still in the tent.
 

Kate is ALMOST one year old and ALMOST walking!!!

She likes being one of the "Big Girls".

These two were the BEST babysitters ever.

I never had to worry. Thanks girlies.

Katelyn & The Cake

Katelyn LOVED her 1 year birthday presents (Violet puppy and a purse), but she was terrified of her cake!!! - More specifically, it was the CANDLE that was scary to her.

Luckily, she enjoyed eating the cake AFTER we took out the candle.

 

 Owen is a photographer too!

He loves taking pictures with the big camera, and the phone camera.

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Brother playing with Sister - At the new house!

These two are so fun. Here are their first pictures of them playing together in the living room of our new house in Rigby, ID.

Celebrating our Independence

Here are a few pictures from our Fourth of July holiday!
Thank you for the matching outfits Grandma Johnson. The grandkids look so cute all matching in red & blue.

1st -Parade in the morning in Rexburg with Grandma & Grandpa Johnson
2nd -Fireworks at night in Idaho Falls with BOTH G&G Johnson and  G&G Ford! I'm so glad my parents drove up for the holiday. What fun!

Thanks for bringing a blanket Grandma Johnson.

Look at all those grandkids.

HE SEES THE FIRE TRUCK!!!!
Get outta the road, boy!

 

Here's my winking little man. Wearing a balloon hat at the parade.

 

FAMILY PICTURE! These are kinda rare for us. I'm always behind the camera.

 

Grandpa Jimbo has another TWIN! Can you see the resemblance?

 

Brian tolerates my endless photos. What a gem :-)

Grandma Betty and Kate - twinners too!

 

Two grandpas. Love these guys!

 

Our New House!

As of July 3rd at 4:35pm, we are now the official owners of this darling house in Rigby, ID!

Featuring: 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, an office, and 2 living rooms on an acre. We couldn't be more pleased!

My parents came to check out the house, and help us get settled.

They were enthusiastically helping us get all the "accoutrements" --I thought my dad made up this word, but its totally legit--necessary to start our new life here. A new dishwasher, food, lightbulbs, cleaning supplies, etc...

Katelyn - 11 Months

Katelyn's got lots going on at 11 months.
I thank Heavenly Father every single day for letting me be her mother.

Clothing size: 9-12 Month
Diaper size: 4
Teeth: 6 (4 top, 2 bottom)
Sleep: 10-13 hours (90% of the time, she sleeps through the night)
Walking: no, thankfully!
Talking: Maybe?  "No" and "Tickle"Food: Lots of table foods, mommy's milk

Kate is on the verge of walking, especially with all the new walker todys. She is days or weeks away from walking on her own. She loves crawling and moving around furniture, and holding onto my hands to walk. She LOVES mobility! She is a great copy cat.

She pointed her finger and said "No", then smiled and laughed. Everyone at the Johnson house spent the next 2 weeks trying to get her to do it again. She copies grandma nancy when she fake-laughs "ha aha ha".

She says what sounds like "tickle", her version is "ticka ticka"

She lets anyone hold her. She is very social and accepting.

I love this little smirk / half smile.

These pics were taken when she was 11 months and 2.5 weeks. (So...closer to her 12 month mark, but oh well.) Such is life. I'm backdating this blogpost to June 25th. Because I can. So there!