McKade

Let Me Hold You Longer

I had never heard of this book until the other day. It has great illustrations and a great message. It is so true it makes me cry every time I hear it. Sometimes we need a little reminder like this.


Let Me Hold You Longer
By: Karen Kingsbury

"Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts:
First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away and leave to me your past,
And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts.
~~~~~
The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips.
The last time that I lifted you and held you on my hip.
The last time when you woke up crying needing to walked.
When last you crawled up with your blanket, wanting to be rocked.
~~~~~
The last time that you ran to me still small enough to hold,
The last time when you said you'd marry me when you grew old.
Precious, simple moments and bright flashes from the past -
Would I have held you longer if I'd known they were the last?
~~~~~
Our last adventure to the park, your final midday nap,
The last time when you wore your favorite faded baseball cap.
Your last few hours of kindergarten, last days of first grade,
Your last at bat in Little League, last colored picture made.
~~~~~
I never said goodbye to all your yesterdays long past.
So what about tomorrow -- will I recognize your lasts?
~~~~~
The last time that you catch a frog in that old backyard pond.
The last time that you run barefoot across our fresh-cut lawn.
Silly, scattered images will represent your past.
I keep on taking pictures, never quite sure of your lasts...
~~~~~
The last time that I comb your hair or stop a pillow fight.
The last that I pray with you and tuck you in at night.
The last time that we cuddle with a book, just me and you.
The last time you jump in our bed and sleep between us two.
~~~~~
The last piano lesson, last vacation to the lake.
Your last few weeks of middle school, last soccer goal you make.
I look ahead and dream of days that haven't come to pass.
But as I do, I sometimes miss today's sweet, precious lasts...
~~~~~
The last time that I help you with a math or spelling test.
The last when I should that yes, your room is still a mess.
The last time that you need me for a ride from here to there.
The last time that you spend the night with your old tattered bear.
~~~~~
My life keeps moving faster, stealing precious days that pass.
I want to hold on longer -- want to recognize your lasts...
~~~~~
The last time that you need my help with details of a dance.
The last time that you ask me for advice about romance.
The last time that you talk to me about your hopes and dreams.
The last time that you wear a jersey for your high school team.
~~~~~
I've watched you grow and barely noticed seasons as they pass.
If I could freeze the hands of time, I'd hold on to your lasts.
For come some bright fall morning you'll be going far away.
College life will beckon in a brilliant sort of way.
~~~~~
One last hug, one last good-bye, one quick and hurried kiss.
One last time to understand just how much you will be missed.
I'll watch you leave and think how fast our times together passed.
Let me hold on longer God, to every precious last.

Frozen Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

Frozen Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls RECIPE

I made these tonight after finding this recipe. What a great idea to make a safe to eat cookie dough and keep it frozen in the freezer for times of need. :) My kids thought they were a hit and I did too. Can't wait to make a shake with them!

Click Here for This fun little craft to use your Mismatched Gloves!

5 8x10s for .99 Shipped!!

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Winkflash 100 Page Book Deal for $19.95 again!

Winkflash 100 Page Book Deal!

Hey, this is a great deal on a photo book if you have a bunch of pics to publish. This if for the 10x8 or 8x8. Or you can get the 12x12 for $29.95. Plus shipping is around $6. Good deal! I was able to get about 500 pics in the 12x12.

Obsessed with Sewing Right Now

"Look Mommy, I'm A Jaguar"

These are not the words you want to hear when you know your daughter has been playing with markers...this was the outcome. The worst part is after I scrubbed it off that night I woke up to the same face two days later. She is obsessed with Jaguars and thinks that she is one. But at this point the markers are on the top shelf of her closet.

Free Quiznos!!

FREE QUIZNOS SUB!

The first Million to register get a free sub coupon!

GREAT DIAPER DEAL! STOCK UP!

I just ordered 456 diapers and got them for only 9 cents each! They were size 2. So depending on size, you can save quite a bit! Not to mention it is TAX FREE!

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Preschool Valentine Party

Is he REALLY this old already?

Mr. Snowman

We finally got out and played in the snow this week and man, did we ever get some snow. It was so heavy and wet we whipped up this snowman really fast. I stayed out long enough to help with the snowman and shovel the driveway and Riley and Luke played outside with their friend until they were soaked. I had as much fun as they did I think.

So how do you preserve your Memories?

I'm trying to decide what to do with all of our many pictures. I used to be a huge fan of scrapbooking until I realized how much it was costing me to do it. Not worth it. I'd rather use the fun embellishments to make a cute card or project here and there, not for every picture.

So, then there is Digital Scrapbooking. Which, as you can see, I just started. It's really fun and completely free so far. I just used free downloads from places like shabby princess. But, then you have to eventually get those printed (if you're like me and virtual isn't good enough) and it is pricy to print 12 x 12 sheets. I have 500 pics of Riley alone from 2008. (These are the good ones I have picked out!) So, I need something that will be cost effective. What I've decided to do are the photo books like the pic above. They are usually about 20 pages for $20 for an 8x10 book and are always having new promotions. (Last week on winkflash I made an 8x10 100 page book for $20 and put 488 pics in it!). So, I think I will make the photo books for each of my kids at the end of each year. That way, I can throw in some of my digital layouts I make and some journaling as well. It's the best of both worlds. And, the point is, it gets done. I would never have been able to scrapbook all those pictures and would've ended up overwhelmed and not doing any, or just picking a few of them in the end.

BTW I'm not knocking anyone who scrapbooks. I think that it is great some people do all that. My sisters are amazing little scrappers. I'm just trying to figure out the most time and cost effective way to print our photos. To me, everything has to be worth the time and energy as well as money that has been put into it. So, what's your opinion? How do you preserve your memories? I would love to hear ideas!

Digital Scrapbooking

Here's my first Digital Scapbooking layout. I was just messing around to see if I could really do this. Wow. Not so hard after all. I'm excited to do more.

McKade 3 Months

McKade lights up our whole house with his smile. He is the sweetest little guy. I am sad he is already so big, but I love seeing every new step. We love you, McKade.

Vote For Luke!!

Luke has entered the Walking with the Dinosaurs contest on Good Things Utah. If he gets enough votes for his Dinosaur Roar Video we could win tickets to the show. If you want to cast your Vote click the link below. His video is called "Luke wants to see Walking with the Dinosaurs". If you click on the link below you can click on his video and watch it. Then if you click on the "Vote" Icon it will have you register to vote... Just wants your name, e-mail, and a couple items to get you registered. Then you can vote!

Thank you all for your votes so far!! Trevor's sister told me he was shown on Good Things Utah today, Wednesday. Maybe they'll show him again tomorrow. Keep on watching!



Click Here to See Luke's Video and Cast Your Votes!

My New Niece

Ella Ryan was born to Ryan and Chelsea on Dec.30th. She is adorable and everyone is doing great. All these new babies are so fun. (Thanks for letting me steal your pic, Chels)

Simplify Supper!

This is the best website to help you organize your meal planning:

Click Here

On this site you can choose from tons of simple yummy recipes, compile a week's worth of meals or a whole month, and print off a grocery list! It will help me keep my upcoming New Year's Resolution to cook more!

Temple Square

We picked THE coldest day of the year to go see the Temple Square lights. We went with my sisters and their kids and my brother, Brett. It was fun but miserably cold.

Riley's 5th Birtthday

Riley's 5th Birthday was filled with preschool and a friends and family party at Chuck E. Cheese, Jaguar cupcakes (by her request, are you kidding me??), a way overpriced Build a Bear at the mall, a My little pony cake that night with Grandpa and Grandma Crane and the Griggs and lots of presents. It was an exhausting day, but we all had a Blast!

Christmas Outfits

Our kids wore their Christmas outfits to my parent's ward. They were so cute. I love how mad Ethan was about taking pics...

Family Christmas Party

We had a great family Christmas Party a couple weekends ago at my parent's house and my brother's restaurant.

Santa is Real in Our Town

We went and saw Santa at the cute little park here last Saturday with my sisters and their boys. He was the sweetest, friendliest, most Santa like guy I've ever seen. Could he really be the real Santa? He didn't even have a fake beard on! We were all believers that day. :)

Anyone Else have this problem?

I just took these two funny pics today. Let me explain... I have been upset that my kids ate their cute chocolate advent calendars from Grammy within 10 minutes one morning. Then I was upset that they made these cute advent calendar ribbons at preschool with a candy on the ribbon for each day and Luke quietly finished his up that afternoon in his bedroom. This is a pic of his ribbon as of today, the 18th. Well, then I saw this candy cane hanging on our tree. The cute Rudolph that they made with Aunt Julie a couple weeks ago was half eaten and hung back on the tree as if no one would ever know. Are they really that desperate for sugar? I have to say no, because they have 6 cavities between the two of them. So anyway, I was a little frustrated until I saw my cousin, Anne Marie's post about her kids eating their advent calendars already and even her helping. I laughed so hard and then realized it really is funny. We will work on the self control issue later. It's the holidays!

My new nephew

This is my new little nephew. He is so adorable. McKade will now have 3 cousins his age to play with! Congratulations Kacey and Cari!

McKade

Look who's smiling all the time now. At first it was a lot of work to get him to smile. Now all you have to do is make eye contact and he can't even help but smile.

Our Little Nativity Scene

Tonight we went to the creche in Pleasant View where they display tons of nativity scenes and let your kids dress up. The kids were the perfect ages for the part so the pics of them are great.

Mr. Smiley

McKade is starting to smile tons. Of course I can't really get a good one on camera, but I love his sweet smile.

I Love Decorating for Christmas

Here's what I've got so far. I figured I'd better get some pics before my kids destroy it completely.

GREAT GIFT IDEA!

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Christmas Sale!

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You May Have Seen This On ABC News Tonight

Click here for an amazing story:

I watched this news report tonight at 6pm. I was so sad for this young girl's famly, but so happy for the family who is receiving her liver. This young girl was in a tragic car accident on Tuesday in Orem. I just found out that her liver is going to be used to save my cousins little boy who has been waiting in and out of the hospital since last February for a transplant. What a blessing in the middle of such a tragedy.

Madagascar 2

Luke is obsessed with Madagascar. He would watch it every day if I let him. So we had to make it to the premier night of Madagascar 2. It was hilarious. I would say even better than the first. I loved the soundtrack especially. You have to see it!

McKade At 4 Weeks. . .

Can roll from Belly to Back
Loves to Eat (still 3 times a night)
Still sleeps about 75% of the time
Is a great baby (now I probably jinxed him)
Gets held by Riley and Luke over and over througout the day
Still makes my favorite grunts and squeaks and purrs like a kitty when he sleeps
Is very dramatic with his funny facial expressions and sounds
Could not be any sweeter

McKade's Blessing

Riley's Coloring Contest

Riley won yet another coloring contest this year. This time it was at her Doctor's office. She took first place of all ages. She was so excited to claim her playdough price.

Halloween

Halloween was great this year. We made a lot of sugar cookies and pumpkin cookies, went to a lot of parties, carved a lot of pumpkins (not something Luke likes as you can see him gagging over the smell in the pics), painted pumpkins, Trevor even made pinatas with the kids, and wore costumes over and over (including spraying Riley's hair red--Something I will never do again after washing sheets, car seats, etc.)

It's A Boy!

McKade William Jeppesen
6 lbs. 7 ozs.
19 1/2 Inches
Oct. 8, 2008 2:51PM

I was induced last Wednesday as planned at 9:15AM. After about 5 1/2 hours little McKade was born. We stayed 2 nights and got to come home on Friday. We have had so much help with the kids and dinners. Thank you! McKade is now 4 days old and we are doing great. We are so blessed to have such a sweet little guy join our family.

McKade William Jeppesen