Please make checks payable to...

Anyone who wants to donate to the WoodruffFamily unemployment fund can please makes checks payable to Matt or Mandy Woodruff. We also accept cash, money orders, cashiers checks, gift cards, food, kids clothes, and other unwanted items. Thanks and have a great life! ;)

Feeling Nostalgic

First of all, I don't know if I spelled "nostalgic" right in the title, but you get the idea. Today Kia wanted to know if I wore a wedding dress when I got married. I told her I did and that she could see it if she wanted. I made sure her hands were clean and I broke out the old wedding dress. I held it up and she thought it was so beautiful. Spencer asked if it still matched me. I guess he could tell it was a little small for me now. Anyway, I also had some tasteful nighties packed in the same chest and I got those out. It was really fun to think about the good ole times.

Hi, my name is Mandy and I'm an emotional overeater. It's been about one year since I attended a 12 step group. I fell off the wagon about 4 months ago. I was doing really well and then we were really serious into the process of buying our home and that was really stressful. I never want to go through that again. Anyway, I have recently become aware ofthe fact that I am out of control and my addiction has taken over. I have started exercising again and today I have been watching what I eat. My real problem is with soda and foods with high sugar content (i.e. candy, ice cream, donuts.) This is how I maintain my weight. Last year I was awesome for about 3 or 4 months and I lost 30 lbs just by cutting out sugar from my diet. Sugar is my weakness and I know that if I can be careful in that area and work out at least 3 days a week for 30 minutes, I can continue losing weight. I have about 70lbs to go. I have a picture of myself at my thinest that I will try to add to my blog at some point. Anyway, the last few days I have felt the side effects of my diet. I know my blood sugar has been really high because of the way I have been eating. I have been walking Spencer to and from school everyday since school started and I feel good about that.

A few pics

This family pic is a year old. I guess it's time to get new ones when my kids don't look the same anymore. This other one is a pic from Matts sisters wedding. Pretty good shot except for Wesley sticking his finger up his nose.

Matt found my shoe

The other day Matt retraced the who situation of Wesley playing with my shoes. He gets down on the floor in our closet and there was my shoe in the back of the closet under a shelving rack thing. Of course, the first time he looks he finds it. And I know I looked there more than once. So, anyway, I have my shoe back.

Missing Shoe

Ok, I'm going crazy trying to find my shoe. The other day, I put all of my shoes in the closet as i was straightening up the house. As I was getting ready to take a shower, Wesley started bringing me all my shoes wanting me to put them on. I told him I didn't need my shoes yet, to please put them back. Later in the afternoon, we had packed a picnic and were getting ready to leave for the park when I coudn't find my other flip flop. I only have one pair and I didn't want to wear my tennis shoes, so I wore Matts extra pair. They are only like 3 sizes too big! Anyway, the saga continues. I have torn the house apart and turned it upside down and to no avail. I went shopping for flip flops thinking I could find something on clearance, but I guess It's too late in the season. And I am still wearing Matts flipflops which by the way hurt my feet and are wearing blisters on both feet inbetween my big toe and whatever the next toe is called.

Hitchin a Ride

My sister is having her baby on friday and I really want to be there. My Dad drives a truck through here every week and I'm trying to hitch a ride with him on his way back to Salt Lake. If everything works out, I should be leaving on Wed. and probably coming back on Mon. I am taking Kia with me and leaving the boys so Spencer doesn't have to miss any school. And I Kind of want the Vacation:) I mean, it's not like Matt has to take any time off! I know I'm gonna miss them but it's gonna be a fun trip.

News about Spencer

Spencer was eating an apple yesterday and then came running in to show Matt that his tooth was gone. Yep that's right, he lost his first tooth. So, I played toothfairy last night and he was sure excited this morning when he woke up at 6:45 (a little earlier than usual) to find that his tooth was missing and replaced with a note from "Sparkle" the toothfairy and a $1 bill. He looks really cute with his little whole right in front. Oh yeah, and yesterday was picture day at school. I can't wait to see how they turned out.

It's a Great Hair Day!

Not too long ago, my brother Matt recommended a hair product to me, but I didn't try it right away because it's kind of expensive. Well, the other day my hair dryer went on the blitz so I went to buy a new one and decided while I was there I would look at hair products. I have been trying to grow out my hair from very short and at times I have these awkward stages, so I needed something to help with this process. So, I'm looking at the hair stuff and I see this product that my brother told me about and I bought it. It is called got2be and they have a whole line of different products. The one I picked up is got2be unstoppable gel and glueing paste. And it really works like glue! This product doesn't flake, it holds during a wind storm, and my style remains even if I perspire. Just a little plug there for my new find. It would work great for long hair too. So, looks like i'll be using this product for a long time. Thanks Matt!

The other day our next door neighbor told us we could have his fifth wheel trailer. I know it sounds great, but it needs a little TLC. He has left the top vent and a side window open, I guess for ventilation purposes, so it's really dirty inside. He says the appliances work, but it needs a propane tank. All of the tires will probably need to be replaced and there is no title. I know we can apply for one but we arent sure what the history is. We are really excited to go on a trip in it! I dont expect that to happen very soon though:)

Also, I started babysitting a little girl named Katelyn, she is about 10 weeks old. The schedule is 7-4 on tues, wed, thurs. She has an older sister named Emily who is in full day Kindergarten. I walk her to school when I walk Spencer and then her mother picks her up before she picks up the baby. I really didn't want this job, but it is helping us financially so I guess it couldnt have come at a better time. I was approached at church and asked if I would like to babysit for a non-active family. I called the mother of the children and she actually already had someone lined up except she couldnt start until the first of Oct. I may only have this job until then, but I'm grateful to my Heavenly Father for his hand in all things. I know this came at the right time and I know He is watching over us during this especially hard time. He is always there for us but I think we realize it more when we need Him the most.

We are doing ok for not having employment. I have applied for some public assistance and Matt has applied for unemployment. He should get his first disbursment this week and we have also let the bishop know about our situation so he can be prepared to help us as well. It's just crazy to think that last year at this time development was flourishing and Matt was working long hours. It has been nice having him around to help me out, I just hope I don't begin to rely on him too much.

First Day of Kindergarten

Today we all got up and got ready to walk Spencer to school. We met his teacher, Mrs. Brown, and saw some of the kids from our neighborhood walking the halls. Mrs. Brown seems really nice. She is young and this is her first year teaching. We picked up Spencer and took him to lunch to celebrate his first day. This is going to be an interesting year. We have a whole new routine for everyone to follow. The kids are gonna have to be in bed at a certain time and be up at certain time. You wouldnt think that just one child in school would effect everyones schedule, but it does.

Matt has been making a bed for Kia over the weekend and he just finished staining it. It is sooooo cute! I have been painting her room. It will be pink and pink, of course. She is a princess after all. The room was this aweful midnight blue color so it has taken several coats of primer. I hope I just put the final coat on. Tomorrow I will paint the ceiling white and then the upper part of the walls is "Precious Pink" and then the lower part of the wall is a darker pink (I forget the name of that color). Matt will add a white border to seperate the colors. It wll be the cutest room ever. I hope she will love it.

Spencer is starting Kindergarten tomorrow. What a big guy he is getting to be. Yesterday he noticed he has a loose tooth. It is his first. He keeps telling me it is hard to have loose tooth. He is very cautious when he eats anything. And he is brushing like crazy. I'm not really sure why. If he thinks the tooth will fall out faster or if it wont fall out.