Alli Blue & Co.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

These Faces

These are the faces that make my day. The kids are growing so quickly. The girls will be TEN soon. On Sunday I sat and did the math. They will be in YW's in 2 years. Then I realized our dear sweet Bailey will be a Laurel when the girls are Beehives. My anxiety went away. Even if it will only be for a few months!

People always say it goes by so quickly. I do know that it does. It was just yesterday I was holding each of them, all bundled in tiny blankets. Before I knew it our mini-van was full.

We have been reading the Book of Mormon each night. All but Burke can read, so last night he had Natalie tell him what to say. He basically said "And it came to pass" over and over and over again. We had a good laugh.

These are the Blue kids.

Love their guts.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Christmas 2013 and my "FaceBreak"

Back in October I started having promptings that I needed to get off of Facebook. What? How the crud can I do that? How will I know what's going on with my friends, family, the strangers I stalk, or the recipes I want to try? How will I sell Scentsy, or 31?? How will I feel validated by the likes or comments I get? Cause really, that's a major part of what I finally realized was making FB such an addiction for me. Logging off was not easy. I started in November by unliking all the pages that were not "people". That helped. Then I started hiding.......you know.....whoever I did not want to see every time I logged on! To me it's less mean than unfriending......but that's a whole other story ;)

So I set a goal in December....go 31 days FB free. I called it a "facebreak"! I am so glad the way it all worked out! It was hard the first few days, or the times when people were talking about things that I knew nothing about. Or when my friends dog died and I didn't know! (RIP Coal!!!!)

Days turned to weeks, and before I knew it I was doing it! I still did Instagram, cause that's my favorite way to share pics! So I felt in the loop somewhat! Within a few days of starting my facebreak I felt the Spirit stronger. I felt clarity. I felt validated by the Holy Ghost, and not likes or comments. I became in tune with my awesome kids. Which they are so awesome by the way. I'm beyond lucky to call them mine.

Jason asked me what my first post was going to be 1/1/14. It was this:

December was a great time to refocus on my family, and my testimony of Jesus Christ.

I'm feeling accomplished! I recommend taking a facebreak. Even if it's a day, or a week. Whatever you think you need. But make it hurt. And make it worth it. It was like a FB fast.

fast²

fast/

verb

gerund or present participle: fasting

1.

abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink, esp. as a religious observance.

synonyms:

eat nothing, abstain from food, refrain from eating, go without food, go hungry, starve oneself;

It was worth it.

Here are some snip-it's of our holiday! We were lucky enough to have Jason's parents, as well as his sister, her husband and 4 kids! It was a full house filled with lot's of laughter! And maybe some tears?? Darelyn, Mom & Dad, thank you for sharing your Christmas with us! My kids will treasure those days forever!!!!! I married into an AMAZING family!

We started a new tradition! We tried to see Frozen on Christmas day, but alas, so did all of Meridian! So we went the next day! 1. The movie was AWESOME!!!!!! x's a zillion! I even bought the sound track! Do you want to build a snowman? If I ask Jason again he is going to kill me. Lol!

Jason and I hit Tucano's for his birthday lunch. I always have big plans of eating myself to death, but after one or two rounds of meat, I'm dead meat! It was worth spending the day with my best friend!

We (Smith side) celebrated our 8th annual Crazy Cousin Christmas Eve! Mexican food, gift exchange, and lot's of fun. Sadly, many cousins were missing! It just wasn't the same!

What's a party without wrassling G'pa?

Aunt Darelyn read a great Christmas Eve book to the kids!

Emery, Natalie, Taylor and Amelia loved all these clapping games. They have a song for each one!

Keller is the best big cousin. The boys were always in his shadow. They had a blast with him!

Cousin pj's!!!

Amelia wasn't too far from Ellie the entire time! I don't think Ellie Mae minded at all! Spoiled pup!

Mr. Blue and I stuck to our guns this year with only ONE gift to our kids. We spent all of December talking to them about Jesus Christ, and all that He did for us. Our goal was to SIMPLIFY our lives. Much along the lines of my facebreak, really plugging into my kids, etc. I'm so thankful for the promptings I felt. It made for a wonderful way to end 2013, and start 2014!

Not once did they feel like they got less than normal. Maybe it was the distraction of family. Maybe it was the lessons we taught that month. Maybe it was their little Spirits recognizing the importance of having a relationship with their Savior. Who knows? I just hope we can keep it up! Cause it's a good feeling!

Here's to my New Years 1st resolution:

Start blogging again, and not relying on FB for my family history!

#boom

xoxo Alli Blue

Thursday, November 1, 2012

October's out.....

October went really fast! It was really busy, and I take pictures on my phone, DAILY if not hourly, so I thought this would be perfect documentation!

Still love doing my Scentsy thing!

There was great fundraiser for Julie. It was at the Lift on State St. in Boise. Lot's turned out and thousands were raised. It was amazing because the people that put this on, really did not know Julie.

I contributed this pumpkin for my table about the Gaubys. That was my job! And photographer!

Part of me will always be 12 and love writing with Crayola Markers :) It's my preferred medium.

I was talked into going to the Haunted Woods with some of my crazy friends. We took these spooky pics before the walk! Julie Shepherd looks like a ghastly ghost behind us!

I didn't have time for nightmares when I got home. Burke started throwing up at 3 am and continued to do so on the hour until 8 am. It was lovely. Not. This is him watching Mickey Mouse Club House at 5 am. It was a long night. I traded with Daddy at 8 and then woke up before church so he could take the Biggies with him. Little and I stayed home!

Saw this sunset on the way home from my sisters. Great reminder of being loved by Him.

Next victim to fall to the flu. Graden. I guess warming up his man parts helps him feel better? Ya, I'm lost too.

All were perked up enough to paint pumpkins for FHE. Minus Daddy. He was at class, hence the non-carving year. Was not about to tackle that one alone!

This is when I puke. Filling up the tank. You see why! Look at my reflection! I am NOT happy! I will be voting on the 6th. :)

The boys and I scouted costumes one day! Graden found his at K-Mart (Holy throw back), and Burke found his at Walmart. Both $10. I can handle that!

My sweet lady bugs.

I worked on the girls costumes for a couple of days straight!

In the mean-time, Face Book was like this for me....

Burke coloring

As a family we went to the Boise LDS Temple open house. It was so lovely. I had a hard time keeping my composure. It was so touching to be there again after being closed for so long! I missed it deeply! The kids LOVED it too!

We hit the NEW Chick-fil-A after! It was super yummy! And the customer service is amazing too! We will go back for sure!

I had the girls help with their own costumes on Saturday morning!

Jason and I had not planned on dressing up. I have NEVER not dressed up for a Halloween since we have been married. I was just not into it this year. So at 4 o'clock he asked if I thought we could pull off the Romney's. WTH???? I was blonde a few weeks ago! Wish I had known! He pulled off Mitt SO WELL!