moments with kim

Our little entrepreneur

A couple of weeks ago Katelyn was trying to think of ways she could earn more money. She has been very jealous of the lawn mowing money the boys earned this summer and insists that her allowance is not enough. Darren and I have always tried to teach our kids that if you want something, you have to work for it. I simply don't believe in handing children anything and everything without teaching them the value of work.
So.... she decided that she wanted to start a dog walking business. I helped her create some advertising flyers to place around town. A day or two later she received a call and now has her first customer! She is so excited!
We met with the owner and the dog a few weeks ago so Katelyn could meet the dog and understand what the owner was in need of. It is a perfect situation for her.  He only needs her twice a week. The dog is a medium sized dog and one she can handle.

Meet Bear.

The owner lives close to a school and open field so each day she is to walk Bear to the school and let him play for about 30 minutes.  He is still a puppy so he LOVES having a girl to play with!

It is going to take a bit of time for Bear to understand that she is walking him and not the other way around. He has a lot of energy.

Katelyn is a ROSE through and through. She has such a special place in her heart for animals. Especially dogs and cats. I won't allow her to have a cat so she has to enjoy them at Grandma's.  Our dog Cooper is her best friend. Even through he drives me insane, I can't imagine home without him.

Just thought I would share!

To be HAPPY kit WINNER!

I am home! I survived 112 degree heat and loved every minute of it! Katelyn and I spent all of last week in Phoenix with my sister, her husband and their little boy. I spent many hours observing this little guy. I have decided that...

being two!  Don't let the cast fool ya. It didn't slow him down a bit. His days are spent watching Thomas the train. Or playing with his dozens of cars. Feeding anything and everything to the dog. Dancing like a chicken when his favorite song comes on. Having a huge smile on his face when Mom buys a fresh green tea from Starbucks.

Watching out the window for Daddy to come home. 

 

Taking a trip to Barnes and Noble only to lay on the floor and look through all of the books.

 

Taking great joy in holding the garage door opener so that he can push the button when it is time. Being the BIGGEST Mama's boy I have ever seen and not letting her get a ounce of sleep! Poor Em!

Happiness is being safe. Healthy and strong despite the poor guys year and a half or procedures due to his accident. Thanks for being a great example to Aunt Kim. I love you Dylan!

NOW... someone else is going to be HAPPY! We have a winner.... and the winner is... Leslie Samana! Congrats girl! E-mail your shipping address so I can send you your kit! YEAH!

I have ANOTHER contest up my sleeve so be sure to check back soon! I am off to label school supplies. For some reason I don't think the boys will go for me putting their names on their pencils. Oh how things change. Savor every minute of your little ones looking forward to the first day. It DOES NOT last! :)

Be Happy CONTEST!

I am packed! Just finishing up a few things before we are on the road. YEAH! Phoenix here I come! Katelyn and I are flying down this afternoon and will spend the next week there. My nephew had surgery on Monday. Remember? He is the one that was run over by a car a little over a year ago. This surgery is the last of several procedures he has had for a year now. They will still have to keep a close eye on his skin graphing and some possible therapy but this is the big hurdle. So.... we are going to down to help with the second shift. My older sister Jen has been there all week. 

Before we go, I must post a NEW contest! We all love FREE stuff right? I do! It is all about the kit this week. The NEW August Express the Moment Scrapbooking Kit "Be Happy" 

This week, I started reading a new book by one of my favorite LDS authors Merrilee Boyack titled "Toss the Guilt and find the Joy".  It is a book I have had on my list to read for several months. I am not much of a reader but I love self help books. Especially those by LDS authors.  Merrilee has this to say:

Happiness is:
Courageously doing what you want to do, even if you are scared.
Experiencing your life as an exciting journey.
Stimulating your mind and caring for your body.
Realizing that you already have everything you need
to make yourself happy.
Knowing that you are the only one who can decide what
 is right or wrong for you.
Accepting that you are okay even when you
blunder from your mistakes.
Knowing that what people say or do is a reflection of them and not you.
Listening to your inner wisdom.
Giving and receiving love unconditionally.

I have a LONG way to go before I have perfected each of those ideas she listed but I like them. I want to work on each one. A little at a time. I am a work in progress.

Think about it. What makes you happy? Try to think of something each and every day. Write it down. Focus on it. For me? I am happy today that I get to go spend a week with my sister and her family. I am happy that in spite of family issues (which all families have) I come from a VERY close family. Each of my sisters are very close and we constantly set all aside for each other.
I am happy that I get to actually be in the car with Darren for 3 hours before I go.  Our schedules keep us from having as much alone time as we would wish so I will take what I get! HE mkes me happy.

So... tell me... what makes you HAPPY. Today. Right now. Leave me a comment and YOU just might win a August Kit from me! I will post a winner when I get back from Phoenix so check back often and post as much as you would like!

Oh.. I can't resist sharing a sneak peak at  what ETM Design Team Member Amanda Gibson did with this month's kit. Simply beautiful!

PLUS... ETM is so excited to have Wendy Sue Anderson as our guest designer for this month. Check our her BLOG for more great ideas using this months' kit AND another chance to WIN!

I am one PROUD Mama!

This past weekend, we headed up to Island Park to pick up Teagan from Cedar Badge. This is his fourth year of attending this camp and this year he had the opportunity to be a staff member.
You have to remember that I come from a family of six girls so the concept of Scouts, Scout Camp, CAMPING in general has been a HUGE learning experience for me.
A piece of my heart leaves me each time I drop them off at a camp or they leave for a over night camp. Camping in the middle of the winter. In a cave. Why I ask? Why? The Hilton is just down the road.

Here he is the morning we took him. He is thrilled that his Mother is the ONLY Mother who is taking a picture. The only Mother that cares and wants to forever document this moment.  Right?

The camp site is beautiful.  Cedar Badge is an amazing experience for young men.  It really is.

Saturday morning they held camp graduation for all attendees and staff. My heart was filled with pride as I sat and watched him take his place. He earned his official staff beret, his bright orange jacket and pins. He was so excited!

Here is my boy with his best friend Peter. Peter was an attendee but not in the same group as Teag.  I admire Teagan so much. He has taken Peter under his wing and has  been a true friend to him.  I love him for that.

Looking back it is fun to see the growth Teagan has made the past few years. The first year we took him to camp he was there a week. When we picked him up he had not showered the entire week! I threw  a way his socks and made him strip down in the garage before he could come in to shower.
This year he was proud to announce that he showered every night. He actually kept his dirty clothes in the seperate bag I sent him and brushed his teeth! I guess I am making progress. Or... maybe it is because girls were also on staff. Seperate tents. But on staff. Hmmm....

Teagan has so much love for his country. He loves scouting and knows it is preparing him for what he wants to do in the future.  I am so proud of him and his accomplishments. Thanks for letting me brag for just a bit!

:)

Thanks ADORNIT for an awesome Blog Hop!

Did you make it through all of the blogs listed on the ADORNIT blog hop? I still have a few more to go. I spent too much time on each blog being inspired and it is taking me longer then I thought it would! Thanks ADORNIT for an awesome opportunity to be a part of this hop. I had a blast! (I am going to leave the ADORNIT side bar logo for future reference)

I was most excited to read all of the comments from new visitors to my blog. If I have not left a comment on yours yet, I will. I promise! As promised, 2 lucky readers will receive $25 in ADORNIT products from me.

Be sure to e-mail me at kim(at)expressthemoment.com with your shipping address. I will mail your goodies right a way. PLUS! Check back often. I love offering contests and will post another soon!

Looking for a new blog header? Click HERE for a few freebies from ADORNIT! I used one of the freebies to create my contest winner above. So simple!

Off to bed.... chat with you soon! :)