I love this picture from last fall. Jared is wearing my favorite shirt, and he actually smiled at the camera. He won't like it that I posted this, but as it is my favorite, this is the picture I am going to use.

Today is Jared's birthday. oh how I love this man. He is funny, helpful, loving, giving, brave, strong etc. He makes me smile each day. He works hard everyday. He takes care of us, he leads us and guides us each day. I do not tell him enough how much I appreciate all he does. With work being slow at his normal job, he has been doing other work to bring in more money. I so wanted to get today off for him, so he could relax and do the things he likes to do. but instead he is at the neighbors using a sledge hammer to take down walls, and helping with the demolition process of their house. He wanted Rain Forest Cafe for breakfast today(a little far to drive just for breakfast) , but he happily ate scrambled eggs and sausage. I have a great and understanding husband. I am so blessed.
Happy Birthday my love!! I love you for so many reasons, here are just a few (the list will probably get longer as the day goes on)

I love you for :

-waking up early, running to walmart and home to make me a surprise breakfast-just because
-brushing my hair
-putting up with all the things i do that annoy you and still loving me despite those things
-loving the kids
-playing with them
-having fun and laughing with them
-the unconditional love you have for others
-your willingness to serve those in need
-the willingness you have to serve in the church
-having a testimony of the gospel
-having a testimony and knowledge of the scriptures
-the ability you have to speak or teach without much warning and being good at it
-holding the priesthood and being worthy to use it
-giving me priesthood blessings, and the sweet way you give our children father's blessings
-for taking me to the temple so many years ago and for continuing to take me each week
-handing me the cash out of your wallet, and saying go have fun
-supporting me, in whatever task, or endeavor I take on
-being good at fixing things
-loving me
-marrying me
-loving the Lord
-being my sweet husband and a wonderful father to our children
How blessed we are that you are in our lives.

its time to vote

I saw this on a friends blog. Its worth sharing with everyone. Hope you are registered to vote. Its important, very, very important!

MPM 10/06

I haven't posted a menu in over a month. So I decided it was time. I also want to share a bread stick recipe that was super yummy!! What I did was make the bread sticks from the #1 recipe and used the topping from #2. These were the bomb. Soft, and Delicious!! try them and let me know what you think.
1.Bread sticks with Parmesan Butter
INGREDIENTS
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1/2 cup sugar, divided
2 cups warm water (110 degrees to 115 degrees), divided
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
DIRECTIONS
In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in 1 cup warm water. Add the oil, egg, salt, 2 cups flour, and remaining sugar and water. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 40 minutes.
Punch the dough down. Turn onto a floured surface; divide into 36 pieces. Shape each piece into a 6-in. rope. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 25 minutes.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

2.Late-Night Bread sticks
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup finely shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1 (1 pound) loaf frozen white bread dough, thawed
1/4 cup butter or stick margarine, melted


DIRECTIONS
In a shallow bowl, combine the first five ingredients; set aside. Divide dough into 16 pieces; roll each into a 6-in. rope. Dip ropes in butter, then roll in cheese mixture. Place 2 in. apart on a greased baking sheet. Let rest for 10 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

So on to this weeks menu

Quiche and fruit
tamale pie( this is a new recipe. I will post it next week, if its good.)
chef salad (with lettuce from our garden)and breadsticks.
clam chowder and rolls as bread bowls
BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, salad and homemade rolls. MMM good.
chicken and black bean burritos
clean out buffet
we have a lot of bread-think its my favorite thing? you're right!!
check out Laura's MPM here
and have a great week.

Tanners journal

okay, this may just be funny to me, but I was seriously laughing out loud. I was reading Tanner's journal that he brought home for the month of September, and on the 16th he writes " I know that I should never let my dad sleep with me because he has gass at night. I know that I should awase (always) sleep in my bed and I should never ever let eneyone(anyone) sleep in MY BED !!!!!!" (the last part is to be said strongly and manly.) He read it for me, correcting me, after I read it to him. very funny to me.

Student of the Week

Cori got Student of the week. Every week the school gives out and award to 2 students per grade. Cori is a great student, She has straight A's, smart, and does what she needs to, without trouble in school. She did a test in Language Arts not to long ago and got the results today. She is at a college grade level in Vocabulary & comprehension and overall. and 10th grade reading level. All her teachers love her. She is definitely a Davis. So smart, fiesty ( I guess she gets that from me) and beautiful.





Way to go Cori. We are so proud of you, and we love you.

weekend

Jared left Thursday morning for Salt Lake. So our dinners were late, we stayed up later than usual, we forgot about the garden, and we didn't get naps. We did get laundry caught up, the garage cleaned, the house cleaned and I went to a fantastic conference for women. (if you want to check it out go here
as of right now-8:32 pm on Monday there are 3 of the 4 transcripts available, but check back, its definitely worth it. Very uplifting and great.
Gage sleeping after he finished his pancake



look at that pile. We actually picked more today, but we also gave some away.

this is a 3 in 1 squash. funny huh?!

The girls are all working, while the boys are playing







Syd trying for the wind blown look, instead Tanner and a funny face is with her

There was a few minutes Sunday night when it was raining, so the boys went out to play, and I went out to take pictures. The sky was really pretty.

And the award goes to

We have a hero in the house. Every month the teachers pick the student that best represents a certain character trait for the hero hunt award. This month was 'RESPECT'. And this is what Mrs. Jennings had to say, "If "respect" means courteous to others or speaking softly in a group or gladly offering a helping hand or remembering to say thank you and excuse me, then respect is the perfect word for Sydney Davis. She makes everyone she works with in class feel important with her warm smile and kind ways. Sydney shows respect for rules by being where she should be and doing what is expected--even when no one is watching!"





Way to Go, Syd. I love you. You are a hero to me.

amazing things

Everyday I witness so many great blessings because of Gage's CP. It saddens me from time to time because he can't do normal 2 year old things. I know there are so many children out there that are affected by CP that can only do 1/2 the things he can, or even nothing like he can. So for that I am saddened, for them and their parents. But I do feel blessed by this disability, that makes it so he's not as fast as the other boys, and can't do and follow their lead. I do realize that by saying I feel blessed that he can't do things seems ungrateful because of the saddness so many feel because their children have difficulties. But to me its a blessing because he's not jumping off the table, running through the store throwing things from shelves, risking his life while climbing out of the basket, etc. He can climb up on the couch and sit, but he doesn't jump off of it. Because of his disability there are things he can't do, but also there are things I am able to watch and give me a witness that our Heavenly Father loves us, He is aware of my needs, and our families needs. He watches over us, and blesses us when the time is right. It is His time we are working with and I know that. I am able to watch Gage progress day in and day out. Today we had PT at the hospital. Gage loves to go see Lacy and Matt. Today he worked hard for Lacy. They have a table that moves up and down and can be at the perfect level for him, and Gage was standing there reading a book with Lacy. Then we started playing a puzzle, the pieces of the puzzle were at one end of the table and the puzzle itself was at the other. Gage started walking along the edge BY HIMSELF! This is something he has never done before-ever, without help. It was so great to watch. He wanted to do it. He took big steps, and walked along that table like he had been doing it for weeks. It was amazing to me. Just recently I was thinking that he really didn't look like he had any desire to walk, and it was okay with me, for now. After today, I am glad to say I was wrong.
Its amazing to me that we deserve to raise this little boy, or any of my great kids for that matter. He is smart, he is a hard worker, he is patient, and he is a love. He loves to give kisses and hugs. He knows all about it. I feel honored to be a mom and a wife. I definitely don't deserve it, but I am glad I have it all.

It has been way too long! There hasn't been much going on, but I decided I for sure needed to post about the garden, and Gage's attempts at standing. I think that is the most interesting. a few weeks ago we decided to plant a garden. and It has been wonderful. It has been a great family adventure. The kids are really helping-I didn't get any pictures of all the work we did with pulling weeds, scooping poop, and just getting the yard ready, etc. but I do have some pics of the now growing garden and the great zucchini we are getting.
for whatever reason the stuff in the middle decided it was not the right time to grow, probably still too hot.

just a little of the wonderful zucchini we have grown. It tastes so yummy.

Logan wanted me to take a picture of the squash that was growing



I think he was hiding the toys he wanted to play with after his nap

funny hair day-dad using the vacuum to do Gage's hair

Gage decided he wanted to stand up all on his own. He still doesn't have much balance, but he kept trying for about 20 minutes. this is a first that we are happy to have.