We've been crazy

Things have been crazy around here. I have been sick for almost 3 weeks. Crew and Asher have also been ill.
At 6 months (and 20 lbs), Crew is getting 6 teeth. 4 have broken through and 2 more are just barely showing white through the gums. As follows with teething, he has been unable to sleep and fusses all night long from the pain. Add a cold to that pain and no one sleeps. Mike and I have been taking turns trying to run the night shift. And just when you think your off duty for the night, Asher will come crawl in bed with you complaining of his cold and cough all night long next to you. *Sigh*** I miss sleep, my old friend.
I was released from scouts and given the new assignment of Laurel advisor. Girls 16-18. Its been fun and VERY busy. I have meetings 2 Sundays a month. Every Wednesday night is spent at an activity and Im also in charge of a new thing that is ward specific. Its called "The Oath and the Covenant". Its a series of firesides that we plan and present over the school year following a similar formula to the mission prep program.-Our ward feels that they are not preparing the girls 18-21 like they do the boys to get to the temple. Its a very time consuming and mentally involved job. I plan the cirriculum and present at a monthly fireside with dinner and two to three speakers. Its been successful thus far. Im excited for our November lesson which revolves around "Symbolism: The Lords language." I've been reading about it on and off for 2 months. (Its one of those lessons my mom and dad would totally rock at teaching)

Arizona is still HOT. No autumn breezes, no falling leaves, no jackets or sweaters. Just sun. I realize that while others are dealing with severe flooding and unusual early cold fronts, they are thinking I should be grateful. While Im glad we arent dealing with tragedy, I wish it were cooler. I need fall. Its my favorite time of year. Our pool is getting colder as the evenings are getting into the mid 80's at night. We will lament the loss of the pool fun for the winter. Here are a few shots of the "FALL SWIMMING". Our cousin Taj came to stay for the weekend and we enjoyed playing with him in the pool day and night.
You can see my poor jasmine vine against the wall. It has totally died. We will need to get something different planted there soon.


Another fun thing we did was spend the weekend with Grandpa and Grandma Banzhaf.
We loved their visit. They are just in Tucson but 3 hours in a car still feels like an eternity away sometimes. Thanks for coming! Sorry this picture has nutty lighting issues.


Im in the middle of tons of craft projects. I have 4 large furniture pieces to update and paint. Plus I'm trying to hang a portrait wall that sounds easier than it is. The neverending birthday parties from friends at school has started and babies are due for immunizations that I dont feel necessary at this age. Mikes work it picking up, people decide to get that last surgery at the end of the year when they have met their deductable. Its starting to get crazy for him jumping from hospital to hospital.
All in all, we are just going about life one day at a time. Mike just bought me a ticket to go to PA for a few days to get some "autumn time". Im thrilled! PLUS my brother Lincoln gets home from his mission the day before, so he will get to see my little Crew for the first time. It should be fun!

Everywhere I go, the People want to know...

"Hey Zach, how come your eyes get all scrunchy when you smile?"


I have NO idea where he gets it?

Lunch Lady's Liver

My boys love to read. For some strange reason they love strange, erie, or creepy books (could have to do with parents whos favorite holiday is Halloween?!?). These books we found at the library were such a fun little read and the kids loved them. There are a few of them. They are not dark,just fun and light. Thought I would share if you have a kid who loves to read. ENJOY!

Financial Advisors

So I have been having heart failure this month over money. Between my astronomical Engery Bills (AC in AZ heat!!! and my house lingers in the 82-84 degree range) and the endless unbudgeted repairs that just dont stop, I feel like I am bleeding money.
Our Double Ovens went out this week. My temp sensors in both and control panel went out. This is a easy 500 dollar repair. Then to add insult to injury our van started making a weird sound .We thought it was the brakes. Come to find out its more than that and will be around 400 dollars to fix. When will it end?

I know things can always be worse and I am grateful that we are solid in a great job and have food on the table however; I wonder how people live the way they do with all these unplanned issues. Does everyone have a credit card they live on? Is that just a MUST HAVE these days?

Mike and I have worked hard to not have credit card debt. We have done a great job of it and pay our cards in full every month. As a result we dont have debt but we are always paying out in full. How do you pay for un-budgeted expenses and still save? How do you go through life without a credit card that has a balance?
I'm worried we will spend all our savings and not replenish them with all the necessities. Lets be real here. Im not eating out every week, buying designer clothes, or decorating from high end retailers. I drive a modest car (I'll say..a MINI VAN sheesh!), buy ground beef instead of steaks and scrimp and cut coupons for deals every week. When 20% of your weekly budget is to buy diapers and baby cereal you know your stretching every dollar. I literally havent set foot inside a mall in over a year. MACYS,The Buckle, Loft, Express, The Gap. Nope, Nada. Im at Target, Kohls, Marshalls and the Outlets. And Im ok with that. Still, I feel like I sacrifice all my wants for my needs and still have nothing to spend on un budgeted needs when emergencys occur.-

We have one income. Its a good one. Im blessed to stay at home while my boys are little (although Im ready to get them to the next stage so I can get back to school).
Im just always curious how others my age are affording Caribbean cruises, girls trip overnighters, weekends in Vegas, designer jeans at 150 per pair, personal trainers, handbags that cost more than my monthly food budget, decorations and furniture from trendy stores....Im just wondering, how do you do it?

Is there a secret no interest credit card somewhere? Is there a money tree I havent heard of that I can plant? Is going into debt worth the stuff you can buy?

I need some financial guru's to give me advice.

Maybe Im just sad because I realized that my 10 year anniversary is in 4 weeks and I just spent the money on my van and oven. Now we get to say "happy anniversary" like we always have, talking about the BIG thing we will do for each other the next year that never happens.
I realize its life. I just dont always want to be waiting to do something for US and then realize we are too old and tired to do anything. LIFE and LEISURE feel so separated somehow. They feel like they are not intertwined without major sacrifice.
What have you done to be able to afford both Life and Leisure? Any tips?

First Day of School and More

The summer is getting closer to an end at least seasonally. The heat just NEVER ends here in AZ. Murmuring about my constant state of sweat and climbing temps is my everyday struggle. I just cant be happy when its 115 outside. Im not made for hot weather. I've decided that I should live in the Alps. The desert is definitely not for me. Hopefully in a few years I will look fondly on my time here as I sip hot chocolate by a fire during a blizzard and say "Remember when we lived in the desert and had a pool in our backyard. That was nice wasnt it?".

August is of course, school time. All the boys are attending the same elementary. Asher started preschool there as well as the twins. Its weird to just have Crew and I home together in the morning. It will be nice when it cools off to start jogging with the baby in the morning. Right now Im using my free mornings to teach Zumba at our clubhouse. Its fun and the class gets bigger and bigger every week. Now if I can just lose this stubborn baby weight. I am needing to lose at least 20 lbs still. Scary...
Z&T are in the same 1st grade class. I didnt want them in the same class, but so far so good. The teacher is a guy from Brooklyn NY. Really nice and a has a stellar reputation. Especially for working with boys. He is a mans man and loves sports. I am hoping he can deal with the twins occasional teasing and attitude. Time will tell.


Crew is...well...an angel. He is such a good baby. He is fun and playful and learning new tricks everyday. We all adore him. He is 6 mths now and so fun and busy. He is a big boy and already ourgrown his 9 mth old clothes.

Good morning boys!

I love my feet!


I'll get you!

Ashers first day of preschool. He loves it!
Can these two ever just give me a normal smile?
Frist day of school and Tanners already holding himself. GESH! Typical.








We also have a new visitor to our house. He is about 8 inches long, but its hard to tell by the photo. He sits in the shade of the tree. I have seen him at least 3 times now. YUCK. Seriously, cant I just get a robin or rabbits? Something cute?

Father and Sons

He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.

~Clarence Budington Kelland

My Beautiful little boy

I shall cherish every moment. For they only last but a brief whisper in time. Then they are gone. Grown. Away.- I cling to this little baby. He is so precious. I feel overwhelmed at my gratitude for him. I feel overwhelmed at my fears for him. I feel hope in my dreams for him. Its amazing how God gave women such a desire to be with these little precious angels. To love them. To groom them. To mold them. To bring them home to him. Such a gift. Just a moment to hang on to.
My memories are filled with warm thoughts and delicious smells of my sons. I am breathing in each moment right now with this bubbly boy before it fleets. Wrapping my mind around each touch. Each sound. Each feeling. Just for a moment. He is growing too fast.

Memory is a child walking along a seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things.

~Pierce Harris