Birthdays...

I just want to start out with this declaration...

I LOVE MY LIFE!

This birthday for me is pretty special this year for several reasons. First, is because I get to spend this time with family. Last year I was in Texas and Branch was in school so it wasn't too grand an affair, but this year there is so much family around it is AWESOME! Second, I am so lucky to be alive. After my health scare last Christmas I realize now more how important life is and I truly am blessed. And finally, presents...no just joking, I am just in a happy place right now. And I have all my family and friends to thank for that. So thank you all. You guys, especially you Little Miss and Branch, are the best presents anyone could ask for. Thank you!

TEAM RYAN!

ARE YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW A
FEDERAL EMPLOYEE?

IF YOU ARE PLEASE PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS POST ON MY SISTER-IN-LAWS POST.

EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT PLEASE CHECK IT OUT HERE!

My thoughts on TV

+++Random post about tv+++

*I am kind of annoyed at Jon and Kate. So completely bummed out that they are seperating but annoyed. They needed to quit the show and work on their marriage. They knew what they were up against and then add the pressure of the show. And their wedding vow renewal. What a bunch of balogna. I just read a report that they have been having trouble for two years now and so that whole thing was a sham. And a shame. That and I can't stand her hair. I watched the confession episode and I am now done.

*I am all for women breastfeeding in public. Not the plop it out and expose yourself breastfeeding but the cover it up breastfeeding. That being said I was watching "18 kids and counting" yesterday and Michelle Dugger was reading a story to a bunch of kindergarteners while breastfeeding! Yes she was covered (it is the Duggers after all ) but that was a little weird. After having Little Miss I realize that there were steps that could have been taken so that she didn't have to do that. And why is it that she keeps that hairstyle?

*I hope Lou Diamond Phillips wins "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of HERE!", though it makes me want to watch "La Bamba". Patti Blagovich was actually pretty cool, but her husband is a snake, and he has weird hair.

*We have comcast now and it is awesome because we can get last Conferences talks. I have watched one or two a day and it is really nice to be able to do that. We also have DVR and I don't think Branch or I will ever rent a movie again except certain new releases.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!

To all the fathers in my life. I love you so much. Thank you for all that you do!

Especially you Branch.




PS-Sorry that I haven't been posting pictures lately. We put all of our pictures on an external hard drive and I don't know how to get to it so as soon as I figure that out there will be pictures galore. I will post a cute video of Little Miss telling daddy "Happy" "Daddy" "Day!" So stinking cute!

Journal Jar-Saving Money

With the economy how it is, and especially because we will soon have to be paying off student loans and a house we are trying our best to save money in any way we can think of. So todays journal jar question is:

What are some of my money saving techniques? How do I save money?

*Saturday is free fishing day in the state of Utah, so I told Branch and he is now going fishing with some of his family. I told him that he had to at least bring home a fish this time for dinner!(He has caught fish before but only brought home dinner once or twice).

*I am starting to coupon. I have really gotten into recently though I am still not good at it but I have already saved $80 in two shopping trips! How cool is that. We will have student loans to pay off and eventually we want a house so a penny saved is a penny earned. I have been keeping track of what I have saved and I am thinking about every month putting what I saved (which before I would have just given the store before I started couponing) and putting it in a separate bank account. That will be our emergency money. I think it is a good savings idea!

*We very very rarely eat out without a coupon anymore. Newspapers and even flyers have coupons all the time for restaurants. Most of the time we have never been to that restaurant before so not only do we get to go somewhere new but we save by doing it. (Not all the time though, sometimes when you have never been to a restaurant you don't know the prices originally! So that means sometimes we spend more, but we actually spend less than if we hadn't had a coupon! If that makes sense...) Even when we don't have a coupon, that means we are at McDonald's or something like that, most places have children s menus or even dollar menus. Awesomeness.

*Speaking of coupons. There are people out there that actually figure out ways to buy things using coupons and promotions and catalinas and everything and then blog about it. They tell you what to buy where to get the coupons and how much out of pocket it will be. My favorite money saving blog is krazycouponlady.blogspot.com.

*Deseret Industries. I will be able to stock up for Little Miss at about a $1 a purchase there. You can't go to any other store and walk out with 3 shirts, a pair of pants, and 3 shoes for $8. I love DI.

*Redbox. You get one free movie code a month. Cool. And when you don't have a code they are just a dollar a night so really cheap.

*Little Miss and I went to the Murray Library and get a library card. We got three movies for me and a book of colors for her. For free. Nice.

Tidbits

So, we have the internet now! YEAH! A lot of stuff happened the last couple of weeks.

*Branch starts his residency today. It is such a BEAUTIFUL office. I am excited for him and can't wait for him to come home and tell me all about it. Actually, I was a little sad when Branch left this morning because we have had a wonderful month of family time. I am not complaining because Branch was so lucky to get this residency I just miss him. He had been gone 4 hours and I miss him. Visit the company website to see this great place.

*We bought a season pass to Hogle Zoo. We have made 3 trips so far and will definitely be going often through out the summer and because it is open all year long we are so excited about the purchase. It was only $90 dollars for our entire family for a year! And we can get a guest in free every time too. Anyone want to go to the zoo?
-Saturday at the zoo we were looking at the mountain goats and the male goat was standing on his hind legs reaching for leaves on a tree and a girl closeby asked her dad if that goat was having a baby. He laughed and said "No, that is a boy goat. You can see his jiggly wigglys?" The girl said "Oh! So that one (pointing towards the other goat) must be a girl because she has no jiggly wigglys!"

*We want DirectTV because we found a great deal for internet and tv. We were going to get it last Wednesday. Do we have tv? NOOOO. we have a line-of-site problem. The apartment complex has strict rules about were dishes can go, which we don't have a problem with except that we would have perfect reception except for the dead tree that is blocking the signal. The front office says the are planning on cutting it down. But other than that no help at all. So we called the corporate office who said to call them if the front office is unable to assist you. Have they gotten back to us? NOOOO. DirectTV was suppose to send someone to to verify that it is a line-of-site problem within 48 hours. Have we had anyone over yet? NOOOO. It is turning into a big joke actually.

*We walked to church yesterday. The church building is within a couple minute walk. Then we found out that we aren't in the ward that goes to that building. Oh no, we pass that church and another church to get to our ward building. Kind of annoying becuase that building is literally right across the street from our building. Oh well. Then they had combined RS/Priesthood in the chapel so it was 3 hours in the chapel and Little Miss did not appreciate that.

*When we visited GR last week we signed up for and competed in a 5K. (See my previous post). Branch, Becky and I walked and Little Miss rolled along. Guess who came in dead last? Yours truly. Dang proud of it too! I won a dozen roses. Branch (who was second to last) won third place in his age group for those that walked. He won a month membership at a fitness place in RS. Looks like we are going to be going to GR a lot! No actually, we are going up for Flaming Gorge Days (and the parade!)

Well, that is about all I can think of right now.

Talk to you later!