Disneyland

Cole and I are off to Disneyland today. I will try to post at least a couple posts while I am gone. We are off to enjoy the happiest place on earth with my family. Dave decided that after last year he was good to stay home. (we went last year with the twins, and Cole, and I was pregnant. Well Cole got the flu while we were there, Presley and Paisley had just decided they wanted their independence in a big way=not wanting to sit in a stroller, etc. good times right?). So he offered to stay home with the 3 younger ones. How lucky am I? I am so excited to spend some quality time with Cole. Missin my 4 other love babes at home.

If you have not been around Christmas time, plan your next Disney vacation then. I am lucky enough to go every year with my side of the family around Christmas time and it is amazing. Not only do you WALK on every ride there, the entire park is all Christmas-ed out. The characters are dressed up, they have a giant tree, and not to mention It's A Small World (pictured above). Don't worry I will take lots of pictures and show everyone what we personally love to do while we are there!

*I have also received a couple e-mails regarding if I am going to accept sponsors, as of right now NOT YET. I need to get used to this blogging thing but I will eventually, (when I figure it all out). If you are interested you are more then welcome to e-mail me but I will be accepting sponsors hopefully in the future sometime. Thanks everyone for your support so fast! XOXO

{Our Story}

I am receiving so many e-mails so I thought I would write to a quite popular question that receive. This is from Savannah in South Jordan, Utah:
"Danielle- I feel like I know you personally. I love reading your blog and keeping up with your crazy life. At times I feel overwhelmed with my 2 kids and I often think to myself it could be worse. (I don't mean that in a bad way). But I have kept in touch with your blog for a long time and I was wondering how you met your husband??- Savannah"

First off thank you Savannah. I often get told that when maybe someone's day is not going quite as well they think about me. I don't take that offensive; in fact I find it quite hilarious. Yes, my life is chaotic at times and I know my 'story' is not the "norm" so to say. I feel quite blessed even though it can be challenging at times.
Dave and I met when I as just 13 years old. My family had moved into a new neighborhood and one of my soon to be best friends lived up the street from me {Bridget, is not only one of my best friends still to this day she is INSANELY crafty and a GREAT cook, www.bridgeywidgey.blogspot.com Check her out :)}. One night we were up at her house and my other neighbor who is a guy called Bridget to hang out. It just so happened that Dave was with our guy friend and we met that night. We continued to "hang-out" until we were of age to "date". We dated all through out high school and even after he graduated. He is one year older then me in school. He graduated in 2004 and went to play football at the University of Utah. They went to the Fiesta Bowl and won!

Only 5 days later Dave left on a mission for 2 years to serve our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in the Philippines. While Dave was on his mission he wanted me to date and I did. I also wrote him all the time and this only made us stronger. When he got home:

it was December 2006. On December 24th, 2006 we were engaged

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Our Black Friday List

I look forward to black Friday every year. I love the excitement and the anticipation of perhaps getting a steal of a deal. Last year my sisters and I hit the jackpot and had a great time! This year I am sharing with you my 'list' for black Friday~

~LG Wi-Fi Blu Ray DVD Player Wal Mart $89.00~

~Next 12 inch bike Wal-Mart $29.00~

~Disney Fashion Doll Wal Mart $5.00~ {i need one Belle and one Cinderella}

~MainStay cotton bath towels Wal Mart $1.28~ Who can ever really have enough bath towels, NOT us!

~Shark electronic steam mop Wal Mart $38.00~ O the things I want to do with this.

~Paula Deen 20 piece cookware $86.44~ Dave and I never got pots and pans for our wedding. crazy right? So we really need some since we have been using my parents ones from their wedding!

~Xhileration women's boots Target $20~ Love the gray
So those are just a couple of the deals that I think would be great Black Friday deals. Luckily we don't have any big ticket items. Wish me luck at least getting a couple of these things. Also did you know most some stores have online black friday today? Check out Pier1, Express 40% EVERYTHING, Old Navy 40% off EVERYTHING, Kohls, and Lowes. Happy Shopping :)

{Thankful}

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."~Oprah

I love this quote by the fabulous Oprah (does anyone else miss her on your DVR?), it puts things into perspective, especially by someone that has so much. It is difficult to get sucked in to the competitiveness of the world. I say this because especially on the "blog-world" things tend to be more "perfect" on the outside of it all. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with showing the best of what you want to remember, but I often catch myself thinking things like, "I wish I was craftier, more organized, more stylish, etc." But at the end of the day I remind myself that my husband has a job, I am able to stay home with the kids, I get to take care of my four little ones (the BEST, we have food to eat, a house that is warm,we are all very healthy and I have my faith.
If we can count our blessings and what we have this Thanksgiving, it shouldn't be hard to realize how blessed we all truly hard, even though at times it is hard to see through the fog. I am grateful.

Happy {26} Birthday David

I just wanted to give a quick little love to my sweet husband. His birthday was yesterday and he turned 26. After Dave and I talked yesterday we both said how we feel much older then our ages, {26, 24}. I think it is probably the fact that we have 4 kids? Dave is an amazing Dad and that doesn't even begin to describe truly how amazing he is with our kids. Every single one of them can't wait for him to get home from work and play with them. We had such a great day yesterday. Dave took the day off from work and we went to lunch by ourselves (thanks mom) and then went to dinner with us and Cruz (thanks glen and susan). It was lovely and we loved every second of not worrying about the simple things with kids. Dave we love you to the moon and back a million times! Happy 26th birthday you old man :)

Sickness for 1,2,3 AND 4 KIDS!

Sorry for the lack of posts. This week I was babysitting my little sister Jazmin, who is 9, and is the sweetest most hilarious 9 going on 18 year old you have ever met. We adopted Jazmin when she was just days old and there is a {little} gap between her and my little brother Tyson. Anyways, Jazzy was diagonsed with insulin dependent diabetes when she was just 4 years old. Needless to say it is a lot of work and I am grateful I know how to take care of her and know how to manage shots, it is a blessing for Dave and I. While I was babysitting I was going back and forth from my house to my parents house. I would sleep at my parents with Cole and Jaz and in the morning come back to our house. I told Dave i felt like Kody Brown (sister wives, yes I watch sister wives and it is awesome) having stuff at my house and my parents house. While I was babysitting Cole and the twinners got the flu. I was cleaning up throw up from Cole at my parents and Dave was here cleaning up throw up at home. And during the day I was managing diabetes, throw up with the kids and still trying to remain sane :). Well after taking this sweet little boy to the doctor today:

he has his very first ear infection. The only way I knew he did was because he wasn't eating. And if you can tell from our pictures of this cute buddy he LOVES to eat. We are very thankful that everyone is {crossing fingers} over the sicknesses.

{Trouble times 2}

What usually happens when I put Cruz to sleep! A little busy much?

Happy {3rd} Birthday Cole

Cole was so excited for his train party this year. Here is he on his railroad tracks

Choo Choo

Cole had his party at night so in the morning he was so excited to get his presents

Love his Thomas Misty Island Rescue

Cole loved his railroad cookies by Dicks bakery

Eclaires

Thomas Suckers

This cake was supposed to be 3D but they messed up. Cole still loved it!

M&M's

We had such a great birthday celebrating Cole. He is a blessing and the happiest little guy we know. We are so thankful Cole chose us to be his parents and to be in our family. We love him more than he will ever know and are beyond thankful for his sweet little spirit he brings in our house. He is hilarious and wise beyond his years, and truly loves everyone unconditionally. Cole we love you and are so thankful and happy your our son.

Thank you to everyone who came to his party. Truly he is beyond spoiled and I am pretty sure everyone knows how much he loves trains :)

Imperfectly Pefect Blog

For a while I have been wanting to make my blog more of a place for me to have a creative outlet. If anyone knows anything about me you know I love my family, kids, fashion, and love to get to know people. For a long time I have been recieving e-mails wanting to know things about my chaotic life, my day to day activities, how I dress my kids and my self, and questions about anything and everything. I have just been replying to these by email back to my blog-friends but I am now getting a lot of the same e-mails and to be honest just don't have the time to continue sending personal e-mails. {If you have emailed me before this post I will email you back individually :)} I will now do more posting instead of emailing, I know that is not as personal but I would like to continue to recieve questions because I would love to answer all your questions. You can continue to email me at my email address {daniellecarroll59@gmail.com}, just expect a blog post. This will continue to be a blog for my family journal so to say but I will be posting to have an outlet as well.

Family Pictures {Jen Herem Photography}

We LOVE the way our family pictures turned out this year. Jen as always was so great and I could of posted every single little picture, but my computer is sooooo slow right now! Please visit jenheremphotography.com for more information.