Lessons learned: This week - Macaroni

Angela LOVES macaroni. (AKA Kraft Dinner) But, when you don't find it on sale for $0.67 a box like I did *this* week, it runs for a dollar more and I'm not always willing to pay for it now that it only lasts 1 meal with Angela and Audrey eating it as opposed to the 2 or 3 when it was only Angela. So, while I was getting some treats at Bulk Barn (Best place ever. Love it.) I saw a container of Mac and Cheese powder. I thought, this is excellent. It's KD sauce and I can buy my own macaroni and make it for cheaper!!!!

Now, in the past, I have learned that there are just certain things that you do not try to replace. Like using "no name" shortening instead of Tenderflake or Crisco... FAIL. Do not do it. When we go shopping together and I say "I wonder if I can use "such and such" instead..." Jamie usually says, "Don't do it. Just pay for it or you will regret it." And at least half the time he's right. (It's probably more, but we'll just give him the 50% so I feel better!)

Anyhow, I thought for sure the cheese sauce would be fine!! I bought "ABC" pasta's and Ange and I journeyed home to prepare our new delicious meal..........

Well. I made it. I tasted it. I hated it.

I gave it to Ange thinking she won't care and she took 1 bite and spat it out and said "Mommy, it's 'isgusting." LOL I laughed so hard. So I failed at the processed cheese powder and luckily found some KD on sale for this week to make up for the failed event.

There are just some things you cannot replace!!

Hmm...

There were 2 beautiful baby boys born last week to friends of ours. They are just perfect little babes!

We found out this week that we will be having another girl. I am glad to know that we won't have to put a boy in a pink girls room! lol I was a little worried about that..... We haven't decided on names or anything else at the moment. I don't think we can even believe this is still happening. I certainly didn't think we would be having any more children! I guess it's a reminder that our plan isn't always going to go according to "our" plan.

It's been an emotional week as well. I mean, this has been the most emotional of all my pregnancies... I get choked up during the On-Star commercial when the pregnant lady gets in an accident and her husband says "I'm on my way!!" Haha. But while these beautiful babies are being born, I have learned of a few other friends who were not as fortunate and lost their sweet babies. There are only so many words that can be said to comfort. I cannot imagine the feelings that are going through their hearts as they had to say goodbye to their sweet angels.

I am lucky enough to have two healthy girls who I get to tuck in every night. And when they are asleep, I go back in their rooms and re-cover them with blankets and watch them dream. I rub their faces and memorize the contours of their face. I always walk out of the room and say to Jamie "I love our girls". Those few simple moments to watch them peacefully and dream and hope for them are so precious. I now understand why my mom used to come in to our rooms late at night and kiss our foreheads even as we were young adults.

I am so grateful for the beautiful gospel that we have. I can only imagine how my friends are feeling, and sympathize with them as much as I can. And I know that through the gospel, and the sealing blessings that are available to us, we will see these angels again. I wish them all the strength and love that I have that they will be comforted. I do not know the answers to why but I have been reminded for the last two months of the scriptures Isaiah 41:10. "Fear not, for I am thy God. Be not dismayed for I am with you." I wake up in the mornings thinking these lines. I keep it with me and it is most cherished. I am grateful that there is someone who knows how we feel at all times and that we can go to Him and lay these feelings at His feet, and He will help us carry them. I know I cannot do it on my own.

Another day, another story...

.... Actually, that's not really accurate because my days are pretty repetitious!

Everything is coming along! Jamie is working and enjoying it. He is such a great dad and spends time with his little girls whenever he gets the chance. Some days they only get to see him on the rides to and from the train and it can be difficult on them. More so for Angela because she misses him so much! She loves when they go on walks or to the park or play soccer. She always comes home with a leaf or a rock for me! :) And she is so excited to tell me what they did. She talks so much these days and sometimes I can't figure out how she learned to say what she did! :)

Audrey is a crazy girl! Way more active than Angela ever was. She opens every drawer and pulls everything out! She constantly plays in the toilets if the doors aren't locked!! Good thing they're always flushed....... Haha! And Angela always closes them in to rooms. Like a dark closet, or their bedroom or she closes all the doors and they are stuck in the hallway! It is really funny sometimes. Every time I find them in the closet, Audrey is sitting in the wicker basket wrapped in my super fluffy and soft robe. It is really cute how she'll just sit there rubbing the softness! She looks like she will doze off even if she's just woken up. She also climbs everywhere! If she is on our bed, she'll crawl backwards until she slips off. Or if she's on the couch and the ottoman is in the way, she'll just slide backwards over the arms! She is a nut!

We find out on Thursday what the gender of the next little one will be. We've had a few friends have babies this week and it brings back all the memories and feelings of the previous ones. I start to feel anxiety! I don't like not having control and I have a hard time relieving it when it's inevitable! We are planning another home birth so we'll see how it goes.

I am very excited for Christmas!!!! I have already planned a Pampered Chef party just for fun! Woo hoo! And a friend and I have planned a cookie exchange for the last 2 years so we are on to our 3rd and I hope it's a good turn out! It's fun to hang out with friends and get a nice assortment of cookies for entertaining! I plan on making homemade fondant chocolates again this year. They will be way better than last year! Last year we didn't boil the fondant long enough, so it will be easier this year after going through the trial period last year!

Oh, and we are having Audrey's 1st birthday party, so I have to go do the invites!!!