Six years and going strong

On December 3rd, we celebrated our 6th anniversary. We had a wonderful time going to dinner and being able to just have us time. We rarely get to do that, with the kids and work and other activities.

I have always thought to myself that marriage will probably be the hardest thing I have to do. In the sense that we are both very stubborn, different and stuck in our ways and it is very hard to communicate. But, so far we have been doing our very best to make sure that we are always considerate of one anothers feelings. You can't argue with someones feelings. After the things we have been through, two children and some hard times, I wouldn't trade this experience. I have a wonderful spouse who has made it possible through his hard work and determination, that I can be a stay at home mom. A lot of people think that, " His Dad just handed him everything he has." When is reality they have no clue. Buck has worked very hard for all that he has. One of three siblings who graduated from College in Business. He has turned his Fathers business around and has made it successful. He is very good at what he does. I may tease him and say he is a great taco bender that rolls the best burritos. But he does much more than that. His store is the #1 store in Oregon for all the Taco Times. GREAT JOB HONEY, and thank you for taking care of our little family.

I have the most wonderful Eternal companion and I can't wait for many more years of hard times of learning and growing. It is all worth it! Thank you Buckland for loving me in spite of how hard it is to get along with me. I know I am difficult! Thanks for putting up with me and loving me even when I get as big as a Dane. You know what I mean! You are truly the best, and thank you for all the fun times. Love's you BIG!

Power of Prayer

Once missing!

As we went camping on 7-23-10, we made sure the dogs were taken care of. Food, Water, a new dog door so they could sleep in the garage at night. Our neighbor Toby would check on them once in a while to give them love through the fence. We returned home the next night around 10:30pm. Kendal passed out from all the fun and excitement, earlier that day. Buck unloading the car as I head out to check on the dogs. But there was no dogs, it was only a dog. Bair, the chicken that he is was still hanging around the back yard. Emma, no where to be found. I being frantic, yell for Buck. He grabs his precious 2500 candled power flash light (he loves it, so proud of it.) Looks into the field behind our house. Only a deer in sight. After I make sure the kids are in bed I began calling, okay more like yelling for her. Buck drives around the neighborhood. Nothing! I stand outside till 12:00am looking and waiting. Still nothing. By one am I decide that I have to go to bed. We had to be back up early to head to Eugene for a family get together.

8:00 am: I head out with Liam to look for Emma around the area. We figured she got out through the back fence, so she couldn't be far. Someone near by had to have picked her up. As I was driving, if I saw anyone that was out in their yard that morning I stopped to ask if they had seen her. Nothing. I finally get so frustrated and sad that I decide for the third time of saying a prayer I better make it VERY sincere. I was pretty firm with my prayer. I'm not really sure if I asked or demanded that we get her back. How was I going to tell a 3 year old that her puppy was gone? I head back home to get ready to leave town again. I called the animal shelter, Animal patrol and posted her on criagslist under lost and found. Keep in mind Kendal still doesn't know she is gone.

We get home later that day, probably around 7:30. I was cleaning up the house from our camping trip, when I saw two people down the street. I went outside hoping that maybe they had her. But they didn't. I went inside thinking that I need to go look again. I got in the car and drove around once more. After about 20 minutes, I decided that I can't spend all day looking for her. I have kids to take care of. I was going to hit one more street before I give up. As I was heading down the street I saw a couple coming out of their house, holding a leash. Their front yard was covered with landscape so I couldn't see what was on the leash. As I stopped, I asked them if they had seen a puppy. As they began making their way through the trees, he says, "Yes, right here." As I look I see him holding his dog and Emma. Excitement came over me. I couldn't believe it. There she was, perfect timing. I take her from him, not wanting to give her up to me. He said that they were going to go look for fliers. I told him I had posted her missing on craigslist, and he said he saw that. But among my excitement I didn't ask him why he didn't email me then if he had saw it. PUNK!! Mind you, she does have a chip, so I could prove she is mine. I took her home honking the horn of the car so Buck would come out. She is home! Kendal still has no clue. Napping she is. We put her in the garage as we go around the back yard making sure there is no way she can get out again. 15 minutes later, Buck heads into the garage and there is no Emma. Grabs his handy dandy 2500 candled power flashlight again, goes into the back yard as I run to the front yard. There she is sitting by Bucks truck. I think to myself, "How in the world did you get out here?" DING DING! The cat door?! We test it out, and yes she fits through the cat door.


Conclusion: Your probably thinking, "about time!"

1. Emma fits through the cat door, and that is how she got out.
2. I should have had tags on her. DONE
3. I wouldn't have found her without Heavenly Father. Because he inspired me to go down that street at that exact time. He was the only way that I could have found her. Power of Prayer.
4. Oh yeah Kendal still has no clue! :)

The Unusual Suspect

The Victim
The Suspect


You may wonder what has happened to this poor, not so innocent little girl. Today at Wild Life Safari, we went to the petting zoo. I didn't think anything of the sweet little smelly animals, so I went about my business while Kendal was playing with them. When all of a sudden I heard crying. Right then I knew it was Kendal. I didn't panic, what was the worst that could happen. As I look at her body to see if there was any blood or scrapes, anything that would make a child cry, I noticed grass in her hair. As I saw this a friend confirmed to me that the Llama had spit on her. Indeed, he did. You can still see some evidence in her hair. The Llama sat looking unusual guilty has I examined the victim and cleaned her up. While doing so I couldn't hold back the laughter. It didn't make Kendal feel any better that mommy was laughing.

While driving home, Kendal asked me, "What happened to me?" I replied, "A Llama spit on you babe!" With a quick, "How terrible!" from Kendal. "What is that smell mommy?" "Well Ten, that is the spit in your hair that you are smelling." "OH!" she says

Therapy

Everyone needs a little Therapy, and it comes in all different forms. I needed a little therapy the other day and it was awesome. This is how I try and feel better about myself and in general.

I went on a run the other day and it was pouring outside. I love running in the rain and it is one of the ways that helps me get a little bit a happiness. So, on my run I decided to do a few things to help me not care about what other people think of me, because unfortunately I do.

1. Sing out loud while running. I have a terrible voice and I know it better than anyone. So as I am running with my tunes on, I decided I was going to belt it out, no matter who hears or see's me. Because one of my goals is to not care what other people think. And I didn't!!

2. Let the inner child come out. I decided as I would come up on some puddles, that I would run, jump, anything that would possibly get me soaked. It felt so good, that I had the biggest smile on my face. And I am sure passerby's were wondering what was wrong with me.

3. You just may get an answer to a prayer. I did and I'm not going to share what the answer was or how it came about. Some people would argue about how the spirit speaks to us. And the way the spirit spoke to me, is not your typical way.

There it is. Simple little things that made my life better. Give it a try, what is the worst that could happen? You get a little WeT!!

You couldn't get up?

So last night at about 3:00 am, Liam woke up for his binki. As I was getting up to go into his room, I heard Buck say, "I heard that one!" as he still lays in bed to further allow me to take care of Liam. I thought to myself, " You heard that one?! After two kids, you just now hear one of them wake up in the middle of the night?!" WOW!!

Change of direction or Compromise?

Yay... I am so excited! Last night Buck and I were talking about our future and the direction we would like to go, and I think he didn't realize that once he said what he said, ( I'll tell you in a minute) that I would run with it completely. So Buck said, "Jen, you can do whatever you want. You can go to law school if you want, and I totally support that." I never said a word about Law School. I haven't since we got married. So as my eyes lit up and became very open and wide, a huge grin on my face and the wheels turning in my head. I had finally got the Okay, (I always had the okay, but without the "I support you Jen!") Yippee, I am changing my degree to Criminal Justice. Oh how sweet those words are to me ears. As I spoke with Buck about it this morning, because it hadn't quite registered last night that he was completely serious. I told him this morning that I will be now changing my major to CRIMINAL JUSTICE, instead of art (Zzz..) He said as long as you don't become a COP! I agreed with a little hesitation, but ultimately I am now able to study my passion. Scumbags here I come!!!

Why here?

Not New York! YES VEGAS! SIN CITY, BABYLON(as my sister calls it), THE GREAT AND SPACIOUS(as I like to call it.)

This will be our 4th trip there. These pictures were the first time we went. Buck and I had been married almost a year and we flew to Arizona, got a rental car and drove to Vegas and stayed a couple days and then headed off to Utah. I liked Utah the best. From the strip to Temple square was quite the difference. I choose Temple Square any day. The other times after that, were for IHOP conventions. So your wondering why again... and some of you are saying, "Jen I thought you hated it there?" Yes, I am not to fond of Vegas, only because all of the nudity. It literally makes me sick. So again you your asking, "Jen, then why are you going there of all places?" Well the answer is.... Cause we were invited and it is a free trip for us. Kind of. Bucks sister (business partner) and her husband are going, and they invited Buck's parents and then they invited us. The last two times we went, we went with all of them. Besides the nudity, there are a lot of fun things to see. We go shopping, Hoover dam. Buck wants to take a helicopter tour over Hoover dam, and I told him "Peace out, I'll see you when you land." It scares me too bad. Plus I have been able to go to the Las Vegas Temple, and St. George Temple, while on our trips. So we do try to have some spiritual refreshing while there. But this time I will be taking Liam. Kendal will be staying with my parents and because Liam is still so young, he will be going with us. Kendal was in the womb last trip, so you could say that she has been there too. So next month we are off to Sunny, Sinning Las Vegas, Nevada.

Whats going on!

Some of you may be wondering what is Jen and Buck up too, and some of you may not care. But I am gonna dish anyways.

Buck: Well.... Not really much going on with him. He is a work-a-holic. I have tried my own "Intervention" but it hasn't worked. He stopped Karate, but is going to start back up next month. I think! We have decided that we are not going to move to Utah, but stay in Oregon. We may not like the politics, but it is home. Buck cleaned out the garage with my help and it is bare. The front yard looks great and he is trying to recreate the back yard again. He blames it all on my dog. I think it is 50/50. The Dogs doing and Buck NOT doing. Otherwise it is all business on his end.

Jen (Me): I on the other hand have a many a things a brewin'. I work a couple days a week, I just signed up for school. Yes I will be going back. I was battling between criminal justice and art. My husband doesn't like the idea of me being a police officer so I decided I am going to do art/journalism with maybe one or two criminal justice classes in there. I have to scratch that itch a little bit if you get what I'm saying. It isn't going to hurt anyone. I finally got the beginnings of the illustrations back from my sister for my childrens book. So I am trying to finish that up. We got a second dog from my sister-in-law, because they couldn't have him at their new house. But now he is gone. Attacked our dog a little too much. Oh and still trying to lose the baby weight.

Peanut: She will be three in April. I can't believe it. She acts like a 14 year old. She is hilarious! She will be starting gymnastics in April, and if she doesn't like that, we will try dance.

Yumm: 7 months old and the sweetest little man ever! He is my sunshine! Peanut is too, but it is true when they say, "Daddy's little girl and Momma's boy!" Yumm rolls everywhere, almost sitting up on his own. Still snores like a sixty year old man and toots like a frat boy as his doctor calls it. But, no doubt all boy!