Hope for Hoth Fundraiser

Yesterday I ran a fundraiser. I have been planning it for a month now. It is for a friend of mine, I used to work with her at Six Star dollar store, while I was in high school and college. Her name is Karen Hoth and she is wonderful. She found out she had stage four colon cancer while she was pregnant with her second baby. They took the baby at 31 weeks to save Karen's life. The baby is in the NICU and has been for over a month now. She is doing well and weight about 4 1/2 pounds now. YEAH! Karen is very sick and the treatment is really draining on her. Her older son is just 12 months old. I can't even imagine this!

So, I decided I could do something to help. So I did! I arranged a kids camp and lunch for March 29th. The fliers were donated by Watkins Printing, 1,000 of them. I had about 10 people volunteer to do a flier route for me. That was nice. My friend Miriam Trappett gathered all the donations for the lunch. SAM's donated $160 worth of soda, chips, hot dog trays, and napkins. WOW! Franz bakery donated 200 hot dog buns. Macey's donated a $50 gift card which I used to buy 200 hot dogs, ketchup, mustard, and muffin mixes for the kids camp. Thank you to all the donors!

I spent about $50 on materials for the kids camp. I only had 30 kids sign up between two sessions which was WAY less than I had hoped for. BUT the lunch was a hit! We had a family in our ward bring their whole family (cousins and all) after a baptism. He paid for everyone and then donated an extra $100 too. THAT WAS AWESOME! Lots of other people came and we only ended up serving 130 hot dogs! WOW! My brother Joe made cotton candy using my neighbor's machine (Wes Hoth) that was a hit too. The extra hot dogs I sent home with volunteers. A big thanks to Jared, Joe and their girlfriends for helping with a session of kids camp and lunch! I could not have done it without them. Also, thanks to ADAM for supporting me and grilling. Grandma Sue supported too by coming up to watch the kids for the afternoon so we could make it all happen.

I am happy to say that we raised $1600!!!! I am happy with that. Considering that I planned it, I ran it, I made it happen.... I'm pleased.

I decided the best way to not worry about me and our stresses right now was to "forget myself and go to work." I love that!

faith

We have been showing the house like crazy this week.
Three showings in four days, not bad.
However, I am just feeling discouraged about the whole thing.
I guess it is just hard to "get our hopes up" every time someone walks through and ....
not get an offer.

I love our home.
I will miss it.

But...

A house is a house.
It isn't happiness.

I am ready for us to be debt free.
Ready to just be a Mom,
not hassle with preschool stresses.
I want to simplify.
Spend more time in a day hugging and kissing my littles toes
Less time getting here and there.

Sometimes....
Lately, this all seems "out of our reach."

I am trying hard to have HOPE!
Hope for a better tomorrow.
Hope for joy.
Hope for simplicity.
Hope for my family.

Even more than that, I am striving to have FAITH!
Faith that this will work.
Faith that God knows me.
Faith in Him.
Faith that we will get through this "rough patch."

BIG GIRL!

I love my Rachel! She is getting more and more independent and fun! She sure has a spunky personality. She is talking in short sentences and loves to sing! She is really into pretty skirts lately too. She LOVES getting her toes and fingers painted. She asks for it all the time. In this picture that is why she is holding her hands up so they can dry. She LOVES her rag blanket and drags it all over the place. The binki is only for naps and bed but she likes it, a lot. Soon I will brave throwing them away. Here are just some fun pictures I took the other day of her. Age 2 1/2 years old (almost).

St. Patrick's DAY!!!

Here are just some fun pictures from our "Green Day" at home. Having little ones is fun for days like this.

Carter rocks in that walker!

This is as green as I could get for Carter boy! Just look at those bright blue eyes! They melt my heart! I am SO in love with him!

A family night treat, smore's bars, that were not green but DELICIOUS!

Colors of spring!

We are getting lots of eggs recently! Look at these beauties! 

Adam applied for a new job!

The business administrator at Logan District left at the beginning of the year. Zane is Adam's friend and so it has been sad to see Adam loose a great mentor. Anyway,  the district has been without a BA for 3 months now. After one round of interviews, and only one applicant that actually interviewed, the district decided to re-post the business administrator job. Adam did not apply the first time but decided to apply the second time. He was one of six applicants and got invited to be one of the four that interview with them. Go Hunny!

The interview was last Thursday. It was almost an all day interview process. It was intense. Adam wore his suit and looked awful handsome! I felt SO proud of him for even getting an interview midst all the 40 plus year olds with years of experience. You rock ADAM! He interviewed and did well. He felt good about it when he got home. We both were anxious and nervous all Thursday night thinking about it.

On Friday, the superintendent pulled Adam into his office and told Adam he did not get the job. He said they appreciated him interviewing and he interviewed well but it came down to experience. Adam understood and although it was a little disappointing, as the pay would have been double what he makes now, we think it is best for our family. Taking on the new job would have meant lots more responsibility and probably long hours. I think Heavenly Father knew we just needed our Daddy right now. Plus, when the new BA retires in 10 or so years Adam can apply then.

Super proud of you Adam! I love you!

Happy 29th Birthday Adam!

Adam's birthday was on Saturday. Mom and Dad watched the kids for four hours so we could go out. Adam and I LOVED our time together. We went to Chuck-A-Rama and had nice conversation and yummy food. Then we made a quick stop at Walmart without the kids it was so much easier. We finished off our date with going to a quality movie. It was "Monument Men" with lots of great actors like Bill Murray, George Clooney, Matt Damon, and more. It was super good and I would recommend it.

After the movie we picked up the kids and Adam opened his gift from my parents. New dark wash jeans, they were so needed and are now my favorite pair on Adam. Thanks Mom and Dad for making his birthday nice! We didn't do a cake or anything since we had a big cake from D's party two days before so Dad put Nutella on a cracker and added a candle for Adam to blow out. It was a nice thought and the kids liked it too. 

Happy Birthday Adam! We love you!

It's WORSE!!!

I was hoping by now, 4 days after the first bumps, it would be better. NOPE! Now they are just all turning into HUGE blisters. Including on Carter baby. It's so sad!

Dayton

The blisters around his mouth have burst and are scabbing. 

 A little rashy on his legs and bottom.

 Carter

Sad, sad, sad!!!