Hole N' The Rock

When you drive four hours to see a temple (which was totally worth it,) instead of just turning around and driving back home, you make a day out of it. We were planning on spending the day in Moab, but stumbled upon this cute tourist spot on our way back from the temple. It is nestled about midway between Monticello and Moab. It was the cutest, coolest, and funkiest place I have ever been. 

The tourist shop is literally in the rock!

You can take a 15 minutes tour inside the rock, but with the little kids were decided not too. 

We then decided to walk around and look at all the cool stuff they had

The girls were really excited to see Mater!

They even had a zoo with some pretty fun animals

It was such a fun day!

I am so glad we stopped here and hope to go back to Moab and explore some more

Beck Turns One!!

It is true! Beck turned one on the 12th of November!
In a way the year flew by, yet it also seems so long ago that Aaron and I brought him home from the hospital.
He is a solid, curious, and happy little guy. He is fully aware that Aaron and I adore him, and uses that to get whatever he wants. I remember feeling so overwhelmed because Beck would scream, not cry, whenever I put him down. I would clean, cook, and take a shower with Beck as my background noise. Finally, that subsided, for the most part, and Beck will play with toys while I do those things.
He gets all the love and kisses from his sisters, and most of the time Hannah will be holding his hands and walking around with him.
Beck will walk along furniture and he will walk while holding one or both of your hands. He will even walk if he is barely holding on to a tiny part of your finger. But, as soon as you let go, or stand him

up and hold your hands out, he will sit down! Every. Single. Time. However, he will climb the ladder in the girls room and end up on the top bunk! I know! This kid is crazy!!
(In the morning, we take the ladder out of the girls room and return it when it is time for bed.)
Beck can't walk so he crawls to where he wants to go. He is insanely fast at crawling; especially if you open the fridge, dishwasher, or pantry!
For the most part, Beck is a happy, cuddly, and sweet baby to be around. He loves to give kisses with his mouth fully open so you get soaked every time.
Beck's sleeping is starting to get a bit better. We are currently going through this weird phase where he goes to bed at eight, wakes up around midnight, and is awake for at least an hour before he is asleep enough for me to lay him back in his crib. Thankfully, he only does this once in the night (he was doing it two or three times!) But then Beck has never been a great sleeper, at night, none of my kids have been. He does do really well at nap time. He takes two a day, and usually sleeps for a couple hours each time.

At his twelve month appointment, we talked about a follow up exam for his urinary reflux. (there are links below if you want to read more about that)
He is scheduled to have another dye test done this month, and hopefully the images will show us that it is all cleared up. It is a pretty invasive procedure, and so this time, he will need to be sedated. I am not looking forward to that, but I know it will be a lot nicer for him.
Beck is now off formula and drinking cows milk. He also eats whatever we are eating, but his favorite food would have to be peanut butter and jam sandwiches. (Although, technically it isn't a sandwich because I put peanut butter on one slice and jam on the other and then cut them into strips and give them to him like that.
The first time I gave that to him, he was so excited he didn't know which slice to eat first!)

Beck is currently weighing in at 22.6 ounces putting him in the 68%
he is 30.25 inches long putting him in the 67%
and his head circumference is 44.6 centimeters putting him in the 12%
(he still has a little head)

I am so happy that Beck has turned one and is doing great! I am excited to see him continue to learn, grow, and explore.
I love my little guy!

To read more about Beck's urinary reflux and his short stay in the hospital last Christmas simply click on the post title
another doctor's visit
Beck's two month update
Beck's short stay in the hospital

Beck and his cousin, Hazelle, turned one just five days apart, so they had a joint birthday party.

Hazelle loved getting cake and icing everywhere, where as Beck was there to simply eat the cake and not make much of a mess :)

Five Ways the Stocktober Challenge Changed the Way I Grocery Shop Forever

The Stocktober Challenge was LIFE-CHANGING!

I know that sounds way over dramatic, which I have a tendency to be, but trust me when I tell you it is the truth. In just over a month, I have gone from having nothing in my stockpile to having a jam-packed freezer and a fully stocked pantry. All thanks to the Jordan Page's Stocktober challenge. 

if you have no idea what the stocktober challenge was first you need to follow Jordan page at fun cheap or free and second you need to click here to read all about it

My dream has always been to have a stockpile of food and non perishable items. I have watched every video and read every blog post about growing a stock pile, but felt like non of them truly address how to get started and stay within your budget. I couldn't figure out how to take my humble grocery budget and use it to feed my family AND build a stock pile. There just wasn't enough money left over after I had purchased the things I needed for the week. In fact, sometimes there wasn't enough money to get everything I thought I needed.

So, how was I able to stockpile and stick to my weekly grocery budget?
Answer - The Stocktober challenge.
 It allowed me to feed my family AND, little by little, grow my stockpile.
It truly was an answer to prayer.

Here are five simple ways my grocery shopping has changed since stocktober:

1. MENU PLANNING - before stocktober, I would decide what I wanted to eat, write down what I needed, then head to the store. I would then fill my pantry, fridge, and freezer with the items purchased for the upcoming week. By the end of the week my pantry, fridge, and freezer would be completely empty. It was so frustrating to see an bare pantry. Now, however, I look through my freezer and see what meat options I have. I check my fridge for produce that needs to be used, and I see what I have an excess of in my pantry. I then sit down and plan meals based on what I already have. I also check to see what items I running low on and need to restock.
This has allowed me to use less of my budget on my weekly groceries and more of my budget on stocking up on sale items.

2. KNOWING ITEM PRICES- before stocktober, I was restricted to buying everything on my list regardless of its price because I needed it now. I was left powerless and was obligated to pay what the store wanted. Now, however, I decide if something is worth buying based on its price tag. I feel a lot more in control of my grocery shopping. I now have the power of the price instead of the price having the power of me (yeah that was probably a tad bit dramatic but you get my drift.) 

3. TIME TO STOCK UP - Now that I know my prices, I can stock up when I see a great deal. Last week, I arrived at the store to see all the meat marked down to ridiculously low prices. Although I hadn't gone to the store for meat I knew those were insanely great prices, so I stocked up! When I see a great stock up price, I don't buy two of three of that item no no no, I buy anywhere from 10 - 20 of that item. This way I have enough to last me until another amazing sale comes. 
- Caution - make sure you are aware of the used by date on your items. -

4. SLOW AND STEADY One reason I was so overwhelmed with where to begin, was I thought I had to get everything in one shopping trip.  stocktober taught me that little by little, week by week, your stockpile will grow. The first week of the stocktober challenge was extremely difficult. However, I decided to buy an extra pack of chicken breasts, and ingredients to make two meals worth of chili instead of just one. Little by little, I have seen my pantry and freezer fill with food. 

5. HOMEMADE ALWAYS TASTES BETTER - I decided that if I could make it myself then I would. Not only has this saved me money, but it has ignited a love for baking that I didn't know was there. I also have my girls help, and we get to talk and laugh and hang out together. We have made pizza crust, cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, muffins, brownies, and bread. It is A LOT more work (can't deny that,) but it is also A LOT more fun!

It is amazing how one challenge, that I debated about even doing, has completely changed how I shop and bonus has kept me on budget every week. 

I am loving watching my stockpile grow!

Motivational Monday #36

Sometimes a random quote on your Pinterest newsfeed will hit you like a brick to the face (not that I have ever had a brick thrown to  my face thank goodness.) Today I needed to hear this.