Stop and Count the French Fries...what does that mean?

Ok...so a few of you have asked me what our family motto means...so I thought I would share here on the blog...in case anyone else is wondering...;)

Here it is...




What a strange motto to live your life by right? Well let me explain! At my husband’s graduation from the Marriott School of Management at BYU, the main speaker talked about “counting the French fries” and it just stuck.

He related a rough period of his life…he was going through a masters program and had 2 small children and a wife. They were extremely poor! It was a rough point in their lives. His wife spent the majority of the time with the small children as he was either in class or studying.

Well one day they were at McDonalds…going out to eat at that time was a very big deal as they were very poor. The children started fighting over “who had more French fries” and his wife sat there and counted out each child “equal fries”. The children were delighted that they both had “equal fries” and that moment just stuck with them!

They realized that when our life gets rough or things don’t seem fair…to take time out and count “the French fries” or in other words…count all of the blessings that we have.

My husband and I have applied that to our life as things get tough…and life isn’t easy…we often stop and “count the French fries”! We are greatly blessed.

I hope that clears it up...LOL...Yes...of course I had to scrap it...

Awh...Valentine's Day...

So it's been a few days...and I wanted to blog about our Valentine’s Day...but time and a long weekend got in the way!

Valentine's Day was fun...I love the holiday...and I would have loved more to go out with my husband alone without kids but that just wasn't in the cards this year.

So I started the day surprising the kids with some altered mailboxes (little mail boxes that I picked up from the target dollar spot and altering them...see my scrappin' blog to check it out).

I then was surprised with a dozen pink long stem roses from my sweet husband (I regret to report that I didn't take a photo...LOL) but Ashlee wasn't as happy as I was...you see...she didn't get any flowers delivered to her...

A few hours later Chad showed up with a cute bouquet of Daisies and carnations for Ashlee...she was delighted! I pity the boy who is brave enough to date her...she is way too spoiled!

Here is Ashlee with her flowers....




The day before Valentine's Day Ashlee had her school party...here she is decked out in her Gymboree Valentine's Day clothes!



Don't you just love Gymboree!

Mid-Day on Valentine's I headed on over to Jackson school to do the room mom thing...I had made over 100 sugar cookies and planned to have some other goodies brought in...it all turned out great! The kids had a great time...and I still felt pretty good and not crazed afterwards...LOL.

Later that night I made dinner...and the kids headed to bed early...and we relaxed...we have some big plans in a few weeks...so I guess you could say our "Valentine's date" will come later in the month.

So it's been awhile....

So yes...we have been MIA....

Sickness has hit our family! I think this is the year for our family as far as sickness goes...I have also heard that many of you have been under the weather!

In the last month we have had strep, colds, fevers, chills, nausea...you name it we've had it...and knock on wood we hope it is gone.

Jackson had his first Pinewood Derby this past month and his car did very well...in fact he ended up taking home 2nd place...but you all know how competitive Chad is...he had to challenge the winner to yet another race and Jackson came out victorious...so they both Jackson and Chad proudly reported to me they "tied" for first place. I say "reported to me" was home sick...I was sad that I had to miss it...but the boys had a great time! Jackson also earned his first bobcat badge so Mom is back to the drawing board on getting yet another badge on his shirt...you would think that I should earn something for sewing on all of these badges...perhaps I should contact the scout master? Or is there someone at a higher level? (LOL)

(A little more about the car) Jackson was so cute as I helped him decorate his car...he told his Dad that Mom is just amazing at making things look good. He was very proud of his cute little car...Chad was all about the speed and Mom was all about the looks...so I guess you could say that Chad and I (oh and I guess the Jackson..LOL) work well together ;) Poor Jackson...he was born into such a competitive family...LOL

Here is his car (he named it the batmobile)





Here is our little cub scout as he is heading out (Dad grabbed a picture for Mom as...she was running a fever of 102!)



Here are a few fun pictures of us just hanging out during the past month....very random and all involving sports ;)







Well...We're sorry we have not blogged in a while...I know many of you have asked us what is going on...but tomorrow Ashlee has her Valentine's Day party at school and Jackson will have his on Thursday. We hope to have lots of pictures to share after the weekend!

Have a Happy Valentine's Day everyone...we hope that cupid brings each of you something lovely :)

Caught Sharing

It seems lately that Ashlee and Gavin are constantly fighting like cats and dogs! I think it is more of Gavin is growing up a bit and is sick of taking orders from his older sister.

So this week...when I witnessed this act of sharing betweent he 2 of them...of course I had to catpure it!

Here they are sharing a sprite





We hope you all had a great week! and are doing well!

Christmas Ramblings....

Well we had a really nice Christmas and New Year...and we were all really spoiled!

I did manage to fool Chad this year...last year he received a video ipod and this year...I got him the Bose system to play it on. But the "fool" was that I purchased a lot of little silly match box cars and wrapped those up in big boxes and put them under the tree...the kids giggled as he opened each car...and Gavin was in heaven because as we all know he loves cars! I think Chad was getting a little concerned and then we let him open up his real gift.

Jackson revealed to us this year that he had his doubts about Santa...until Santa was able to pull through with the very so hard to find and popular Wii...he was so cute when he told Chad and I that he now has proof the man really exists ;)

Ashlee was in heaven with all of the Brats Make-up...I don't even think she played with anything else and we have all received so many "make-overs" to the point that we all feel like fashion models...her latest victim is Gavin and he is so patient and holds really still while she smears make-up on his entire face...you just can't help but laugh!

Gavin...well let's just say that the boy has more cars and trucks than 1 child should have...he is really enjoying them all! Lucky duck!

I of course was spoiled...that husband of mine goes way over board...what can I say...I am one lucky gal! I received the cricut expression and design studio for Christmas! Along with a few other goodies...Gotta love a man that will go into a scrapbooking store with a bunch of ladies! He's a keeper!

We also enjoyed "ringing" in a New Year...and are excited for all of the possibilities of 2008!

We hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season! I will leave you with some pictures!

Merry Christmas!!!

We want to wish all of our friends and family a Very Merry Christmas! We hope that each of you enjoys the holiday with those you love the most!


With love,

Chad and Jennifer

Christmas Woes

Yesterday when I picked Ashlee up from school...there was a sign posted about pink eye and that the children had been exposed to it...sure enough after getting home she was showing some signs so I took her in just to make sure.

So...as many of you already know...Ashlee and Gavin both have it...grrrr...Gavin seems to be doing better...and will take the eye drops just fine. His sister seems to be getting worse already and not wanting to do the eye drops.

Here is a picture of our little pink eye girl after I got her eye pried open and cleaned up (poor sweetheart)...I hope she gets better soon.