Despains

Daddy Love

2011-09-21T15:38:00.000-07:00

Thanks Jared for all you do!

Sam adores you....and so do I :)

It's a GREAT day to be alive!

2011-09-21T15:28:00.000-07:00

Every morning is a great morning, 'cause I can roll over to this face smiling at me! Puts a smile on my face every morning. It's a better feeling than chocolate! :)

A party for the Firkus family on July 4th

2011-09-21T15:19:00.000-07:00

Ivy and Inger

The Harris Family threw a party for the Firkus's who moved out of our ward a year or two ago on July 4th. *Sniff* We were excited to see them and here is a few people in the ward who came to the party to see them (and of course eat the food, esp Inger's amazing ice cream dessert!) :)

Mike and fiancee Missy. They announced their engagement

US! :)

The Hughes

The Whites

The Whipple's

Bradfords

The Denney's

The Harris's

Alisa and Dan Firkus! It was good to see them again!

All the group

Mike Kammerman, fiance Missy, and kids

Max's baby blessing

2011-09-05T16:42:00.000-07:00

Most of all that came

Jared's family.

Add caption

Camping in Maple Grove

2011-09-05T16:09:00.000-07:00

Jared's camping style

Sam loves mud. This is a mud pit

Me relaxing with Sam

Sammy's eating place


Kent was the cook. We ate really good food. This is breakfast

Eating ice cream that was made in a bag

Matt doing what Matt knows best

Sam's preschool fun!

2011-09-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

Sam goes to Preschool. He takes the bus 2 times a week, on Tuesday and Thursday. Before school started, he was excited, but the day came, he had his backpack on, the school bus honked out in front of our house, so we ran outside excitedly. We run up to the bus and then the moment of truth came for him when he had to leave mom. I asked the lady if I could ride the bus with him. She said no. So, I shoved him on the bus and off he went screaming. (He's a shy/clingy personality). After that, every time he talked about the bus, he said, "I don't want to ride it anymore. I'm tired of it." Now we bribe him with an ice cream sandwich. Every time we run out to the bus, I just keep repeating the words "ice cream sandwich, ice cream sandwich" and then, push him onto the bus. (I need my free time.) :) It seems to work every time. Bribery is my best friend :)

His much-deserved ice cream sandwich

Sam at the computer

2011-09-05T15:37:00.000-07:00

Sam is a little wiz kid on the computer. He knows how to use the ipad, Jared's blackberry phone, Grandma's computer and phone, VCR, tv, etc. He knows where all the games are located, as well as cool sounds. His favorite sites are PBS and Sesame Street.

Max at 2 months

2011-09-01T10:39:00.001-07:00

So I thought I would start blogging again since we have a fast internet speed. Max is 2 months as of yesterday. I thought i'd take some pictures of him. Here they are

Awesome crock pot recipes

2009-02-16T16:08:00.000-08:00

I found a great blog. In 2008, a lady made a new year's resolution that she would use her crock pot every day. She does. She throughly blogs all of her recipes, how to do it, full of pictures, and "the verdict" or what she thought of the recipe. It is A-MAZING! I love using the crock pot, because I can prepare everything in the morning when I am full of energy and not have to worry about dinner all day long. I LOVE crockpots (have I said that already?). On this website, there is even a recipe for tapioca pudding and brownies in a mug, which would be a GREAT idea for FHE on Monday nights.
Check it out:

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

2008-12-23T15:35:00.001-08:00

Service & Honesty at www.redmountainaviation.net

2008-12-23T15:35:00.000-08:00

Service & Honesty at www.redmountainaviation.net

Why Jesus is Better Than Santa Claus

2008-12-22T20:44:00.000-08:00

A little something to remember during the Christmas holidays

Santa Claus lives at the North Pole...
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa Claus rides in a sleigh...
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa Claus comes but once a year...
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa Claus fills your stockings with goodies...
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa Claus comes down your chimney uninvited... JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa Claus...
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa Claus lets you sit on his lap...
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa Claus doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy (or girl,) what's your name?"...
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa Claus has a belly like a bowl full of jelly...
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa Claus can offer is HO HO HO...
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa Claus says "You better not cry"...
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys...
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa Claus is a "jolly old elf"...
JESUS is the King of Kings.

Santa Claus may make you chuckle but...
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa Claus puts gifts under your tree...
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.

Fifty Dollars is Fifty Dollars!

2008-12-22T20:38:00.001-08:00

Morris and his wife Esther went to the state fair every year, and every year Morris would say, 'Esther,I'd like to ride in that helicopter.'
Esther always replied, 'I know Morris, but that helicopter ride is fifty dollars, and fifty dollars is fifty dollars'
One year Esther and Morris went to the fair, and Morris said, 'Esther, I'm 85 years old. If I don't ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance.'
To this, Esther replied, 'Morris that helicopter ride is fifty dollars, and fifty dollars is fifty dollars.'
The pilot overheard the couple and said, 'Folks I'll make you a deal. I'll take the both of you for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and don't say a word I won't charge you a penny! But if you say one word it's fifty dollars.'
Morris and Esther agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of fancy maneuvers, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word.
When they landed, the pilot turned to Morris and said, 'By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't. I'm impressed!'

Morris replied, 'Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Esther fell out, but you know, fifty dollars is fifty dollars!'

The Idiot Quote of the Century

2008-12-22T20:32:00.001-08:00

'My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it.'

- Barack Obama

2008 submarine races

2008-12-22T20:22:00.000-08:00

What do you really expect to see?

Funny

2008-12-22T20:20:00.000-08:00

For all you guys when your wife has chores for you to do. Here's what to wear!

Are the Canadians ready for the flood?

2008-12-22T20:18:00.000-08:00

Men are so easy

2008-12-22T20:16:00.000-08:00

It's not difficult to make a woman happy. A man only needs to be:

1. a friend
2. a companion
3. a lover
4. a brother
5. a father
6. a master
7. a chef
8. an electrician
9. a carpenter
10. a plumber
11. a mechanic
12. a decorator
13. a stylist
14. a sexologist
15. a gynecologist
16. a psychologist
17. a pest exter minator
18. a psychiatrist
19. a healer
20. a good listener
21. an organizer
22. a good father
23. very clean
24. sympathetic
25. athletic
26. warm
27. attentive
28. gallant
29. intelligent
30. funny
31. creative
32. tender
33. strong
34. understanding
35. tolerant
36. prudent
37. ambitious
38. capable
39. courageous
40. determined
41. true
42. dependable
43. passionate
44. compassionate

WITHOUT FORGETTING TO:

45. give her compliments regularly
46. love shopping
47. be honest
48. be very rich
49. not stress her out
50. not look at other girls

AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU MUST ALSO:

51. give her lots of attention, but expect little yourself
52. give her lots of time, especially time for herself
53. give her lots of space, never worrying about where she goes

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT:

54. Never to forget:
* birthdays
* anniversaries
* arrangements she makes

HOW TO MAKE A MAN HAPPY

1 Show up naked
2. Bring food and beer

The four stages of life

2008-12-22T20:13:00.000-08:00

The four stages of life

Date night pie

2008-10-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

For Jared's and I's date night, we decided to make a cherry pie. It was so easy and delicious! I thought pies were so hard to do (they sell for $3 a piece in the restaurants), so I thought it would take years. Nope. It took just 5 minutes prep and 40 minutes to cook. I used the Jiffy pie crust mix, 2 cans (21 oz) cherry filling, and a pie tin. I wrapped the crust in foil so it wouldn't burn. That's it! It was the best date night ever and so cheap. Biting into the cherries was the best part. Maybe next time, we'll add icecream to it!

The woes of exercising

2008-10-08T08:25:00.000-07:00

Why is exercising so HARD?!?!?!?
I started exercising 2 days ago (wish I could say at least a week) and I am already pooped out. My legs are sore, I woke up with a Charlie horse. I just feel slumpy, but even worse, I feel like the one on the right when among friends:

I used to exercise all the time before I was married. I loved it. Why do I always have to drag myself out the door before going?? I think the movies and snack food, like peanut butter crackers, fun fruits and the desire to chill/talk with Jared have replaced my love for exercising.

Thankfully, Jared has started to exercise. I think he is noticing the big bump I have on my abs (no, I am not pregnant). He kicks me out of the house, while he stays indoors and does his g-ball exercises. He loves it. It involves a basketball-looking ball and you swing it all around you in a, supposedly, graceful manner, and call it exercise. I, on the other hand, enjoy the outdoors and prefer to feel good about myself by hitting the pavement and seeing how far I can go. Last night, after I was done, I was proud at how far I had gone. I estimated it to be about 1.5 miles, running without stopping.

So, in the end, (the next day), I feel pretty good about myself. I feel like I've accomplished something. Granted, I have been hobbling around today and I moan when I pick up Sam, but it's the feeling inside. It's that pat-on-the-back feeling good. I think I will keep doing it.

Kindness pays

2008-10-06T12:10:00.000-07:00

We have house sat and watched a dog named Bandit for our friends, Dave and Sharon, while they went to Cabo for a week. Dave is a friend of Jared's and also a pilot, so when they take trips, we watch their dog, checking up on him 3 times a day (orders from Sharon), sleeping with the snoring dog in the bed at night, make sure robbers don't attack the house, graffitied, burnt down, taken over, ect. We have done this for about a year and have never gotten anything monetary from it, just the occasional dinner, their friendship, use of their jacuzzi, big screen t.v, satellite, king-sized bed, etc.

Since having Sam, it has been harder for me to lug stuff 10-15 minutes from our house for a week or less. It is just inconvenient and I like staying in our own house. Man, did Jared get an ear full of complaints this last time, me complaining about never receiving anything ever for gas, etc. Woe was me. I told Jared, once more, that this was the last time we ever did this and that they were so ungrateful, etc. (I just feel bad for Jared putting up with all my complaining!)

We packed up on the last day and go home.

She calls us the next day, telling us she has a present and to come and get it. We were able to that day.

We show up and had about 30 minutes of conversation, us catching up on each other's lives. I am looking around the room for some form of present, like a box of chocolates, towels, etc. Then she pulls out a $100 dollar bill and starts going off about how much she appreciates us and how we deserve this and on and on...

...I was shocked. All this time I had been complaining to my what seemed like my punching bag of a husband who took it all with love and consideration. In the end, we were rewarded with a present with more than I ever thought we would get!

100 dollars is:

-10,00 penny candies

-26 gallons of gasoline

-our cellphone bill for one month

-one month of food (about) for us

-50 buckets of ice cream

-94 redbox movies (including tax)

-a trip to SLC

-4 date nights for us

In the end, I realized how sometimes in the day-to-day view I only saw, I didn't see the value in helping someone because "I want to," but because "I have to," and sometimes blessings don't come right away, but sometimes a year later.

General Conference

2008-10-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

On Conference day, we had Rachel Judd and her son, Tyler, over so Sam and Tyler could play together. Tyler is 10 months old and tried to "play" with Sam.

Rachel looking at our pictures from Hawaii and Jared watching Sam.

I loved President Eryings talk of unity. He talked about how we need to look for similarities in others who believe differently than us. He said that children of God have more similarities than differences. I think it is a call for us to love those of other faiths and to treat those differences with respect and love. He used the term of being a "peacemaker" when talking to other individuals, whether it being our spouses, family, friends, or nonmembers. I have seen many marriages decline due to the pride of one or both spouse always wanting to be right and never seeming to agree.
I thought he spoke to me on the criticizing of others. He said we should always speak good of one another. He said, "I can promise you a feeling of peace and joy when you speak generously of others... You will feel unity...it will be because the Lord will let you feel his appreciation for choosing to step away from the possibility of sowing seeds of disunity." I have felt both the feeling of peace come as I have spoken well of others and the feelings of regret and disunity as I have spoken unwell of others. I resolved to change my view and to always seek and look for the good in each one of us (including myself) and to be a "peacemaker."

Sam's bedroom

2008-10-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

For those of you who haven't seen Sam's bedroom, here it is:

Sam loves being on the changing table.

He loves having his diaper changed.

(I just think he likes to be naked!)

This is the scary futon.

I am in the process of rotating out all of Sam's clothes.

It's a big ordeal with him constantly changing and growing!

And Jared got to decorate his room!

(The only room in the house he can hang up all of his airplane pictures!)

Sam's blowout

2008-09-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

After one of Sam's naps today, he had the biggest blowout. This is one of the 10 i've seen him do. Here are the pictures:

I don't know if you can see the poo up in the clothes.

It went all up the back.

This was Sam's reaction to all of this:

From now on, we are going with red.

Organizing the pantry

2008-09-25T14:02:00.001-07:00

So, I don't know about you, but I don't like organizing and I wait the last possible minute there is to do it. I have a sister who is 13 months older than I am and she would have loved the job. She inherited all the cleaning genes, while I got the ones that are, well, would-rather-have-fun-and-not-organize genes. Well, I decided today was the day to dig through the pantry. I was sick of not being able to enter the pantry and reaching from the door to get stuff.

So this is what it looked like before:

Little Sam was so good. He played in his bouncer.

...But then got tired through all this and decided to sleep.

I couldn't believe all the stuff I pulled out! I didn't think

it was possible to load it back into the pantry, but I was

excited to be halfway done!

I couldn't believe there was a floor underneath all that!

Well, here is the final product. Yeah!

Bird Poop

2008-09-24T14:44:00.000-07:00

When I was young, the coolest animal we had (from birds, to anne's pet mouses, to adam pets snakes) was a bird named scab-r.i.p. He was a great bird, but was freed from us 8 kids when he flew away.

15 YEARS LATER

We have a gray cocatiel named bones, short for bonecruncher. He is a good bird. He can fly right to you and land on your hand or shoulder. He flew out the door once, but I went out to the empty lot out behind our house, kept whistling to him, and he flew from the high air right down to my shoulder. He was awesome.

Well, what I don't remember was all the PooP they discretly lets out. He'll be sitting on the shoulder and out from nowhere, poo into the food or into the clean cup. It is quite disqusting, to say the least. Here was a shot I saw of some poop.

Bones hiding out in his hideout.

His area to mess up

Sam at 4 months

2008-09-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

Today my work asked for their keys back, which means I officially don't have a job. (I am sure I could go back). It's hard to move on, but I wouldn't change my life for anything. Sam has been growing and changing. Here are some picutres to show just how great my life is and how cute he is getting

Joys, Fears, and Obsessions

2008-09-24T13:57:00.000-07:00

3 Joys:
-renting a redbox movie, buying cheetos, and having a great date night with Jared
-Waking Sam up in the morning to see him with the biggest smile ever.
-Visiting new sites.

3 Fears:
-Getting in a car crash
-Getting really heavy
-being a failure in life

3 Obsessions
-Throwing Jared's stuff away (the saver, while I am the tosser) to have a clean house
-watching tv
- eating right-salads daily, having breakfast (which consists of a malt-o-meal type of gound flax, sesame, and pumpkin seeds blended with cottage cheese and applesauce)

Plane ride

2008-08-21T01:06:00.000-07:00

Jared took us on a plane ride. The view was awesome! It was 1 hr long and we flew around the island. I felt the bumps and was pretty sick. Something was wrong with the plane. I made it safe! It was great.

Jared and I in Hawaii

2008-08-21T00:49:00.000-07:00

These are just a few random shots of us

Hawaii

2008-07-31T14:02:00.000-07:00

This is what I have been thinking about!

HAWAII!

Sam and I looking alike

2008-07-31T13:44:00.000-07:00

So, Sam weighs around 15 pounds. He is in size 6-9 months and he is almost 3 months. Hmmm.... I think he has definatly inherited my body or he is definately inherited a Tharp body. I have to go garage sale shopping tomorrow for clothes. Any ideas on how to make a child not be so chunky? I drink tons of water and eat lots of greens mixed in with sugar of course.

I added a few pictures of me as a baby. I think we finally figured out who he looks like. For the longest time, we thought he just looked like Sam. He didn't look like either of us. Now we know.

This is Sam sleeping. It seems like he always lays his pacifier down. He loves that ugly green one. Whatever works!

Sam at about 3 months

2008-07-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

My new haircut, which has been the best thing I have done since Sam was born, is so awesome. The beautician thinned it out and it is so easy to take care of. Sam has also grown too. He is much easier to take care of than he was at birth.

It's nice to be at home, not having to work. I am going to start painting curbs. I have to earn $2,000 to go to Brazil, back to my mission. I am excited. We are going to Hawaii in 2 weeks with my parents. It will be fun taking Sam. Mom is going, so hopefully we can have her watch her #1 grandson during this time. :)

Jared's graduation

2008-05-30T18:36:00.000-07:00

Yeah! Jared graduated from Dixie State College in April with a bachelors degree in Elementary Education. It was exciting! He deserved it after endless nights of papers, staying up late until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. He had portfolio after portfolio to do and I admit, most of it was busy work. I thought it was neat how they had to go back and do addition, subtraction, fractions, spelling. He was doing this for a bachelors degree. He didn't moan and groan too much through the 2 years, which was nice for me. He is the first graduate in his family to get a bachelors degree. Congrats Jared!

Jared's flying adventure to Washington State

2008-05-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

Jared went to Washington state 4 days after Sam was born in May 2008. He flew a single engine airplane with an older gentleman, making sure the guy made it there safely. He was gone for 3 days and took some awesome pictures. He stayed on an island and had to fly off Orcus island to get to the airport where they took a commercial flight back here. Jared wants to vacation here next. This is the benefits of being a pilot is that you can be in Washington in 6 hours.

2008-05-30T17:41:00.000-07:00

2008-05-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

Samuel Jared Despain was born May 12, 2008 at about 10:oo p.m. He weighed 6 pounds, 10 oz. He came after only 3 hours of labor, which made mom happy. He is a happy baby, hardly cries, except for when he is hungry. He wakes up every 2 hours at night to eat, which takes a toll on mom. Hopefully it will get better. Jared has changed 2 diapers and is proud of that, but has been told many times to not get too comfortable because he will change many more in the future. For now, we are adjusting to parenthood and are enjoying it.