Ethan's baptism

I realized that I never posted any pictures from Ethan's baptism. It was very sweet. We were very happy that my parents, and Ben and Maddie were able to make it. Luckily the weather was better than it is now. The airport is currently a mess, and no one is getting anywhere fast.

Ethan was so excited to be baptized, and was definitely ready. We had great support from our friends and ward members. He felt very special and loved. Thanks everyone who supported him on his special day. It was appropriate I suppose that it snowed that day, and he was clean as snow.

He is a great kid, and we love him.

Its Matt's Big Day

We had a snowstorm last night, and though it was minor in comparison to growing up in Idaho, it was major here. I have to say even though it may only snow a few inches, it turns the roads to solid ice, and with all our hills. . . it makes it impossible to get around. Ethan had late start three days, and no school the other two last week. And this morning church was cancelled . . . so it felt like it should be Christmas morning, But it was only Matt opening birthday presents. It is actually one of the best feelings to be snowed in on Christmas, believe it or not I have fond childhood memories of being snowed in. Matt has been so busy with work, it is a bit of relief to be stuck at home.

Matt made it clear earlier this month that he did not want Christmas paper for his bday presents, he said "I would rather it be wrapped in newspaper". Thus he received cardboard boxes that the kids had colored on. He has since taken it back. I think he would prefer pretty packages with Christmas decor versus our current design.

Ethan and friends in front of our house a few days ago. It has been quite nice to have the bright snow instead of gray skies.

Snow Dogs

Well they came, and it snowed. My parents and Matt's brother Ben, and his wife came for Ethan's baptism. We are having very unusual weather for Washington, we have set records this week for cold and snow. Needless to say it made getting around difficult, but we managed. I know I am from Idaho and grew up with terribly cold weather, BUT it is COLD, and I have grown accustomed to the mild weather up here. This is Grandpa's snow dog he built for the kids. . . don't say i never let you have a DOG kiddos, ha ha.



It was 18 degrees on my thermometer this morning, and it isn't ending anytime soon according to the news. I am so grateful for a warm house. We have a few inches of snow, and ice covered roads so some schools have cancelled school, but ours is just a 2 hr delay. I went to look for a sled yesterday for the kids, and the manager laughed at me when I asked. It didn't surprise me, since it never snows here, and when it does it melts quick, but not this time. . . it is frozen and should be for the rest of the week. Ethan can't get enough of it.

Party! Party!

We were at Matt's department Christmas Party at tulalip casino and resort last night, and the brothers from different mothers were the comedy entertainment, and it was Awesome. They were clean comedy, and very entertaining. That was probably the highlight of the evening. The ward Christmas party was also last night which the kids went to with our favorite babysitter. I told her she could take them if she wanted, but I didn't think she would brave it with four kids, But she did and they did fine I heard.

Apparently "brothers from different mothers" were on America's got talent?

. . . I have been thinking about my grandpa and Grandma Blunck quite a bit lately, and I came across a photocopy of a painting that had been done of my great grandparents and their kids (which was my grandpa blunck). This was their homestead on the Rexburg bench which was called Herbert back in the day. It even had a post office at the time. It is now on the registers as a ghost town. I have many fond memories of Grandpa on his dry farm, He farmed until his late 80's. He had a small jar of rattles from rattlesnakes that had killed when they tried to make their home around the farm. He also had arrowheads that he found down in the creek which he would fish at.

Big Turkeys are disgusting!

I waited until the day before thanksgiving to pick up a turkey, and when I was at Costco there were two left, so I decided I better get it since I wasn't going anywhere else to shop(It was Madness). So that is how we ended up with a 23 pound Turkey. I was obviously a little tired and incoherent when I purchased the largest bird ever grown.

It tasted fine, but then when I was cleaning it up to put it away. . . Yuck! The tendons and stuff were huge, and it made it difficult to pull the meat off. I was totally grossed out, it might as well have been a cow, ha ha. Needless to say I have tons of leftovers which are about to be made into freezer meals. My family will be lucky to get a turkey next year, I am totally grossed out.

Other than that we had a very mellow day. I cooked alot, and it took 15 min. to eat, and then we cleaned alot. Thanksgiving isn't meant to be with one family. It is meant to be with lots of people sharing the load of work involved.

We did stop by some friends to share dessert. Matt slaved in the kitchen to make his famous from scratch Apple Pie, which was delicious. Gotta love a man in the kitchen.

Albertson's Again?

Okay so I am addicted to getting a good deal, and get excited about it so ignore this if you are tired of reading my grocery list blogs, ha ha.

So last week I hit albertson's again, and spent $40 and saved $75, it was awesome. I was way too lazy to blog about it, But on a smaller scale this week:

I scoped out albertson's yesterday, and the biggest deals are the following:


fresh express bagged green lettuce or mixes is $1 with a .50 cent coupon= .50

land o lakes butter spread $1 - .55 cent coupon from paper or blinkies = .45

buy 10 pillsbury participating items get $5 off at register which makes cake mixes .50 cents, I bought eagle sweetened cond. milk also. There is a coupon for eagle $1 off 2 cans.

And of course green giant steamers are $1, and there is a $1 coupon online or in paper = free



I also used my raincheck yesterday from last week which was if you buy one saralee frozen pie (6.39) then you got 2 cartons of breyers ice cream and another sara lee pie FREEE.

So I got:

2 pies
2 breyers
1 classico alfredo
2 gg steamers
7 pillsbury cake mixes
3 eagle sw. cond. milk
3 pillsbury cresc. rolls

total out of pocket= 20.20
total savings= 26.88

I got a raincheck for butter, salad, and green giant steamers so I can get that next time. Those were the best deals this week and they were gone. You can get up to 40 rainchecks, I am not that crazy, but I will stock up on a handful of frozen veggies. Last weeks sales were definately more advantageous, much more variety than this week.

Sale ends Tuesday

Kanani posts the deals she finds on her www.couponitis.blogspot.com , warning it is easy and contagious!!