Decisions,,

So, as I have said in previous posts, Ray has been in North Dakota since the beginning of October. As of the moment we do not know when he will be able to come home. I have looked for places to rent where he is for our family, but have not been successful. So, we continue to hope and pray for a way to bring our family together again.

A couple of years ago when Ray and I first moved to Wyoming we had no other choice but to buy and stay in one of these.
It did get old really quick!! But, we were newlyweds, and in a bind.

Well, we are kinda in the same situation. But now we have been married for 5 years, have a 1 1/2 yr old, have been apart for over 6 months, make more money, and may very well be purchasing one of these beauts I am hoping to find one with atleast 3 slide outs, a master bed room, a tub in the bathroom, washer/dryer hook-up, and bunk beds. We may have to sacrifice, but I am hoping for a great out come. I mean, we are going to live in it, we might as well get one worth living in.

Motivation..

Seriously?! I have absolutely NO motivation to lose this "baby" weight.. I'm not even sure if I can call it "baby" weight, because I was more fit after I had my baby than I am now.. I can't seem to get a hold on eating right. I know what to do, and how to do but there has to be something in my brain. I EVEN PRAY!! I mean come on!!! I don't need someone to tell me what to eat or how to exercise. I had lost almost 50 pounds when I was 14. I just need someone to kick my butt!! Not just for my physical appearance, but for the health of my future babies, and to have more energy to play with Daxton. Since I can't watch Biggest Loser over and over again all day every day. Someone needs to come and give me a good shake.. GRR!!!!

March, & April

So, this post may be rather long. It's been a while..
In February Dax & I had the opportunity to spend a month in Idaho with my family. We left shortly after Valentines day and ventured home around the 20th of March. While we were there we got to visit most of our amazing family!! But, most of the time we were busy helping plan & pull together Kami & Garrett's wedding. Yay!! I said that I would be in charge of making cake balls for the reception. (I am NOT a baker, I will cook anything, but never again will I bake!!) You can give me a roast, and a few seasonings & you will have the best 4 course meal you could ask for. But, if you give me some flour, sugar, and a spoon it will end in a catastrophe! Anywho..
Some cute pictures of my baby. He was helping Grandma bake something.. maybe cheesecake, not sure, and he saw her hand on the mixer. Well, he put his hand on the mixer thinking he was "helping"



So here are some pictures from Kami's wedding. The bride looked absolutely stunning. I love my sister to death and I am so excited for her happiness!!





I'm not quite sure why I stopped taking pictures, but I did. I only got ones of the ceremony. My poor baby had a fever that day and only wanted to be held. Luckily for me, Ray was able to make it so him & Daxton cuddled all day long. Literally. Ray helped out so much by taking care of Dax so that I could be where I needed to be. Helping out where needed. Congrats again Kami & Garrett!!!

So, this last weekend my Amazing Mother & Step-Dad came & helped me work on our living room. Ray & I tore it apart last summer and got it gutted and cleaned up most of the way before he had to take off to North Dakota.
That is one of the walls as of today, but when Ray left, that is what ALL of my walls looked like.
Then little by little they started looking like this...
When Ray was able to come home he got some of the insulation up on the walls and put in a window. My step-dad put in the other window, it was the first one he has ever installed, and he did a great job!


While my Mom was here we got the whole ceiling sheet rocked and one wall.


I cannot wait for our living room to be done!! It already seems so much bigger than what it was.
Thanks Mom & Rob for coming out and taking up a weekend for us!! We love you!!
In the mean time while I wanted to be doing something to the house but couldn't do much more to the living room, I decided to pull off all of the cupboard doors and repaint them. Pulling the off & sanding them, & painting them wasn't the hard part. Replacing the old contact paper with new stuff (Thanks Carolyn) and getting them hung where they would fit was another story.
I only got 4/6 sanded and repainted and put back up so far, it's like putting together a jigsaw puzzle!!
I didn't realize that I should have done them in order because they aren't all the same size and now the are offically "custom fit" cupboards!!

The white is what they used to be, they showed EVERYTHING!! So, I decided to go darker.. A LOT darker. I was unsure of the color at first, but it is growing on me.


Well, that is all for now. I think I am caught up on all of the happenings lately.

Dearest Netflix..

Dear Netflix,
I must say I do enjoy you to the fullest. I love you that enabled me to cancel my $60.00 a month Dish Network bill because of all of many options of TV shows & movies you have for Daxton and I to enjoy.
I do have to say CURSE YOU though. Why, did you have to put Grey's Anatomy seasons 1-7 on here?! I am only on the 3rd season and I do feel as if I neglect my baby boy during the ENTIRE day!! Because I can watch, and watch, and watch you!!
But again, you do save me $60.00 a month. Maybe I just need to get a little more self control. I may need to start putting myself on a timer. I can continue on with our love/hate relationship. As long as you stop getting me addicted to television shows.

Love,
Paige

Diapers

So, being a stay at home Mom. Not only do I have the job as nurturing our children, and keep our home in order, but I feel like it is also my job to save money.
When Dax was a baby I absolutely LOVED and recommend these diapers..

$20.99 for a box of 66 diapers
But now that Dax has gotten bigger and they no longer have Swaddlers in his size I had to switch brands. I have tried ALL of them!! Huggies Little Movers, Pampers Cruisers, Regular Huggies, Regualr Pampers, LUV'S.. you name it we have tried it.. I came to realize that these work pretty well, equivillant to the ones that I named before.
$14.00 for a box of 80+ diapers
Seriously, great!!
UNTIL.. I have tried my absolute FAVORITE type of diaper. Which isn't Pampers, or Huggies, or LUV'S or even Parent's Choice..
$14.99 for a box of 80+ diapers
Fabulously Absorbant & Did I mention Cute?! I absolutely love, love, LOVE Target brand Up & Up Diapers.
So, if you are like me and are looking to save a few bucks, you should try these! They are the BOMB!!

Idaho

Well, it hasn't been long since we last crossed the Idaho/Wyoming Border. And, today we are going to cross it again. I'm just going to say I'm so glad we have great friends here in Kemmerer to watch over our house, and dogs, and cat. I owe them BIGGG time.

I'm so excited to spend some time with family and friends. Especially my Mother-in-law who was diagnosed AGAIN with cancer. My sister is also getting married in about a month, and I'm so ecstatic to be able to witness the wedding. She is my best friend.
The funny thing is, about 10 years ago we HATED eachother. We fought, yelled, screamed, kicked, punched, pulled and yanked eachother. If you would have asked me then if I ever thought our relationship would change I would have said "NOT in a million years!!!" Now I don't know what I would do without her. She is an amazing Mother, daughter, and sister. I love you Kami!! You are the best!!

Ok, back to Idaho.. We are pretty excited, a little nervous for being gone for as long as we are going to be gone, but it will be good. Idaho is where we need to be so that we can be with family, help them with what they need.

Dear Cancer, We HATE you!! Love, The Phillips'

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell division leading to growth of abnormal tissue. It is believed that cancers arise from both genetic and environmental factors that lead to aberrant growth regulation of a stem cell population, or by the dedifferentiation of more mature cell types.

My Mother-In-Law was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer in November 2009. We were all shocked.
I think feeling of denial also over took us. She had surgery in the Spring of last year and an lemon size mass was removed from her ovary. After many MANY rounds of chemo fall 2010 hit and she was in remission. We were thrilled with the news.
The chemo in the beginning was giving her a run for her money. She was weak, tired, sick, and a little scatter brained for DAYS.
The chemo seemed to mellow out a little bit, and she wasn't quite as bad as long. It was only a day or two.
Well, about a month ago, Ray's grandfather got re-married and when she was on her way to the wedding she slipped and fell down her stairs. She ended up breaking her foot.. But that is healing perfectly. She felt as if her hip might have been broken though so she went to get it check out and it wasn't broken. So she had a CT Scan done, and has swollen lymphnoids on her left side (the same side that she fell). The cancer has returned.
Please keep our family in your prayers. Not only for Julie, but also for her husband Ken and children Nate, Michelle, Jerry, Curt, Ray, and Trina & their families.

When I talked to Julie today she said that her Mom told her that maybe breaking her foot and having all this stuff happen to her was a good thing so they were hopefully able to catch the cancer in more of the beginning stages. I have yet to find out what happened at the Doctor's today to determine the "what now"

Julie, you are such a strong woman and Mother. We know you can get through this just as you have in the beginning. We love you!!

Dear Cancer,

WE HATE YOU!! Will you please go away and leave our loved ones alone.
That is all I have to say to you!

Love,
Ray, Paige, and Daxton