And so it begins...

The tree is up, the decorations are out and it looks like Christmas! (minus snow..)  The countdown begins with our Advent Calendar and our number blocks!  This year for our Advent Calendar we are focusing on Christ and His Miracles.. Day 1..Puzzle and "The Plan"...the Plan of Heavenly Father, likening the puzzle to how it all plays out and comes together when we have the fullness of the Gospel.  Day 2....Gingerbread cookie cutters and making Gingerbread Boys, likening it to the part of the plan that allows us to come and recieve a body, a body that is in the Image of Our Father in Heaven and Our Savior and brother..Jesus Christ.  Day 3...Coal, likening it to the Atonement....the part of the plan that made it necessary for the birth of our Savior, for without his birth there would not be someone to bridge that gap so we could return home where no unclean thing is permitted.  Therefore our Sins as dirty as coal would not allow us to go back to where we came from.  Day 4....Pencils, reminding us of the Savior who was placed on a wooden cross to suffer the physical pain along with the spiritual and emotion pain that would set us free.  Day 6......a Plant, reminding us of the resurrection and the knowledge of life after death, a new beginning for Eternity..faith in the growing stages from a seed and how it needs to be nourished on a daily basis. 

ThANkSgiVINg dAy fUn

Ok so we decided to park our bodies home and enjoy the Holiday with our little Family!  A couple of weeks before we had a family Thanksgiving at my brothers and last Sunday we had Thanksgiving with Ken's Family at his Mothers.  I couldn't  pass on just spending time with our children especially when Dakotahs plan is to serve a mission.  Meaning that he graduates in May and turns 19 in July and hopes to be able to leave right after his Birthday. That means we will be without him for 2 years and I am NOT dealing well at all with this fact!  I am so HaPpY that this is his plan but I thought it would be a long time off, after all it was just yesterday I was holding him in my arms.  Tears are ALWAYS close when I think of him leaving and serving...both of happiness and sadness...YES you CAN feel both!  (I think the sad emotion is stronger at this point)

The big boys spent the first part of the day on the mountain and we then enjoyed a FEAST!  Ken took care of the turkey, potatoes and a beautiful apple pie!  He makes for a WonDErfUL wife!  How blessed I am for all the things that make my life complete....Family, Friends, The Gospel, A living Prophet, Scriptures, and of course A Heavenly Father and a Savior!

THanKs!

Fall slipped by way to quickly with the snow knocking on the door....but how I welcome Winter! How I LOVE the seasons! Each Season I find things that I love about that time of year. Winter is loved because of warm hoodies and sweaters, the warmth of the fireplace and inside hugs, hot chocolate and window watching with huge snowflakes or blizzards. The excitement of the snow sports and building snowmen, Christmas and Valentines, a time to warm the heart and soul. Without winter we wouldn't take the time to slow down and contemplate all the things we are blessed with. Warm homes, food, clothing, a free Country, access to the best medical care, dear friends and family, the birth of the Savior, the Scriptures, newly opened doors to doors that have been closed, Miracles, and Hot Bubble BAthS! So tell me, why not LOVE winter?!

MonSTer MasH MOndAy

So I was thinking....Maybe it would be fun to do a Halloween Party for our years past preschoolers.......So I conned the other Moms into doing a Monster Mash Monday progressive party! It was awesome! We started with lunch at Miss Jennys house where she is so festive
that it puts us all in the mood for partying! The kids had Mummy Dogs, Halloween cheese and crackers, jello eyeballs, witches brew, rice krispie treats..(the Witch serving brew is not Miss Jenny, that is Miss Holly....Miss Jenny can be seen cutting out a ghost in the picture
down.) Next stop....Miss Amberlees where we did a ghost craft! Then I misplaced my camera and so the pictures end there but the fun never stopped! Next stop...Miss Me! I did a couple of games. One of the cutest ones is where the kids wrapped each other like Mummys.
I will post some of those when i get pictures from the other Moms. We played another game called "Lights Out Jack" We had 2 identical pumpkins carved and lit candles and gave 2 players squirt guns and the first one to get the flame out in the pumpkin one! Fun, Fun!! Ke'Nia
and I had lots of fun with the invites, Mummys and PUmPkin favors :) Next stop...Miss Hollys where we watched Alvin and the Chipmunks meet a Werewolf! She has an AWESOME theatre room and the kids felt like they were at the movies, popcorn and homemade suckers made
them happy little ghost and goblins! Thanks to all the Moms who go along with my craziness!

My FaVoRite TiME oF ThE YeaR!

K, So I LOVE LOVE LOVE fall! The cool crisp weather, The smell of falling leaves, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and especially The Colors! In fact inside our home it's fall all year long!


S

So these are a couple of fall projects I have been working on...Not into sewing..but hey, I did it! It helps to have a cute model and a Princess who thinks you are Ralph Lauren! The shoes I did not sew just hot glued! I'm really good at Hot Gluing!

HoMeCOminG ConTinUEd...

What a fun week for the kids! Jadens game was away at Ben Lomand where he played JV and then a full Sophmore game.. They dominated at both :) The next night was the Homecoming Parade and Game! Both boys were in the parade and Dakotah played Varsity and once again dominated Ben Lomand! Ohhh High School Memories........ ones they will have forever! Go TRoJaNs!! We Love Morgan High! Oh ya...The CutESt Boy , number 21 in the football uniform belongs to us!!
He was 1st attendant King, missing the title by 2 points :( (no thanks to younger brother who did not vote....voting was during his football hour and he didn't hear the voting announcement....regardless, he's MoSt DefiNitEly KING to us!)
''

Homecoming!

And so it's finally here! Homecoming week started Friday, beginning with the Dance! I know.. Morgan High seems to do things a little bit different. "Remember When" was the Theme of the dance. Dakotah was nominated Homecoming King and lost that title by 2 votes! Jaden did NOT vote and the guy that was with him that happens to be Dakotahs friend also did not vote!! They were in Football that hour and did not hear the announcement so........Dakotah would have won! He was happy to not have won but claimed the is 1st attendant title. Ke'Nia and I attended the assembly that he was part of. The Nominees were blindfolded and kissed and then had to determine where that kiss came from. Ke'Nia kissed her big brother and of course he was surprised to find that his little sis delivered that great big kiss! Friday night was the dance and I made wrist corsages for Dakotahs date and 2 of his friends. His date looked beautiful and of course he was so handsome but the picture of him with his little sis melts my heart......Here's to our Senior King and his little princess...Ke'Nia :)

We CaLL oUrSElveS BLeSSed

We as an extended family have alot to be thankful for this year. We have been blessed to witness a miracle in our lives. My wonderful Mother was diagnosed with tongue cancer early this year. As she thought about this trial and what it would entail with surgery, she had decided that she would live her life the best she could for as long as she was able to. So many people prayed and fasted for her and a few weeks ago her Dr. called and shared with her that he thought that she was a very good candidate for surgery. He told her that he felt he could get the cancer but that it would leave her face disfigured, therapy for a year to get her to talk and eat and a limp because of the bone they would have to take from her leg to give her a new jaw bone. Once again we prayed for her and in the end we felt it was a good move for her to go through the surgery. She did go through a 15 hour surgery and after they brought her out, Dad, Penny and I were there to see her. Despite the venilator that she was on, she looked as though they had did nothing to her. A couple days later she was feeling good and by Saturday she was talking! She left the hospital a week and one day later being able to eat, breathe, talk and the cancer was removed! She is now at home and hasn't had to take more than an asprin for pain. So amazing considering that they took half of her thyroid, half of her tongue, her left bottom jaw bone and a piece of bone out of her leg. A miracle? No question! Heavenly Father heard our prayers as he always does and this time...It was His will to heal.. So much to be thankful for and no possible way to thank Him enough.

Last Blast of Summer!

So the Summer literally came and went! Not much summer typical summer fun, but a very productive one! We as a family could be found working at the office everyday! But how rewarding it has been to see campusbookrentals.com grow. All the kids have gotten in on the action and it's been a learning experince. We found fun can be in just being together. We were able to be on t.v. and that's always fun! We did manage to escape to Bear Lake with Alan, Melena and family. It was a much needed getaway and very relaxing. The lake was beautiful and the company fantastic! Some how we managed to be parked by a few gay guys! Quite grossly entertaining for sure! But the sun was out, the water was warm and the guys enjoyed water football.

Our 1st Born is Turning 18!

Dakotah is turning 18 on the 27 of July, and how amazed I am at how quick the time has gone! The pictures I have posted were taken from when he was 12. I need to scan in the other ones. What an awesome young man he has become and I am so proud of him. It took some work to get him here in this crazy family, but ever since he has been ready to take on the world. He has accomplished so much already. He can work better than most grown men! He could build you a house, rebuild a car, put in a yard, build you a fence and send you out a college textbook! He has alot in store for him and some very lucky girl will someday in the FAR-off future will get to be apart of his life that I am so blessed to be apart of. We love him so much and are very proud of the man he is becoming.

WARNING: Don't blink, before you know it their 18!

LaZy DaYS of SUmMeR? NOT!

I haven't heard those dreadful words....I'M Bored! Lucky for me, it's been a busy summer!
We did go see the new Ocher Mountain Temple with some friends and Alan and Melenas little family. It is BEAUTIFUL! Ken's little sister got married on Friday...We were involved with the Community Bike Parade....A field trip to the Christmas Carol Train that ended up ending at McDonalds before even arriving at the train station due to a 3-4 hour wait to see the train, A mother-son date night that we put together for homemaking night, a movie night with Jaden, making strawberry jam, planting my flowers, finally!!, because of Washington like weather with a few hail storms thrown in to damage the garden I did have, The Community Newsletter I'm still trying to get-together before the end of this month, A TON of books that have needed to be inventoried, a Operation Graduation food both for the county fair that I need to find 8 couples and their Seniors to help work in, going 3 nights a week to baseball games and working on and giving a talk on Fathers day in Sacrament! I may have left out something, but you get the drift! No Lazy Days of Summer YET! Dakotah went to Alma camp (a pre-missionary, faith and testimony building experience) and it truly changed his life! He is so awesome anyways, but to see him grow spiritually in 3 days gave me such a proud mother moment, that I'm still smiling! Jaden was the first to win a $100 challenge on landing a back flip on a wakeboard! I am going to post that video clip as soon as I figure it out! Ken and Jaden went to Flaming Gorge for their Scout Camp and had a great time cliff diving, wakeboarding and getting rained on :) Jaden also now has a drivers permit! I took him down to take the test and asked him if he studied hard and he looked at me and said he hadn't even opened the book, but assured me that he could pass it because he has been driving since he was 8, and sure enough he came out with permit in hand... So with June coming to a close, I'm wondering....Will July be the Lazy Days of Summer I was looking forward too??

Dance'n and 1st week of Summer!

It's officially over! Dance that is...at least until the fall! Ke'nia did great and she loved it! She so wants to do ballet, it's killing her! I need you, dear friend Linda, to teach her Ballet :)

Our 1st day of summer we took a walk and found all the colors of summer! Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Orange and Pink. We did it as a family but Jaden was more interested in Roping us all!
He has been rounding up and branding cattle with his friend. Good hard work never killed anyone!

HeRe COmEs SuMmER!

SCHOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER!
The big boys have started football, been swimming, wakeboarding, to the drive in movies and they are way on their way for summer fun! They did great this past year in school, both getting on the honor roll :) They both have jobs at campusbookrentals.com! It truly is a family affair and we love it!!
Ridge ended his 2nd grade year with a field day at school. He did great in school also and is ready for fun! He and Ke'Nia are loving Baseball.. (reminder to self.. Take some pictures!) Ke'Nia just can't wait for summer to be over so she can ride the school bus and go to kindergarton...Dakotah will finish his school career and Ke'Nia will be starting hers! Wow I just can't believe how time flys.
Ke'Nia had a little dance recital for the end of the school year at an elementary, and her big recital is coming up this week.
So now that it's official...

BRING SUMMER ON! WE ARE READY FOR FIELD TRIPS AND FUN!

Spring?!

So here in Mt. Green we never know when Spring is here! One day it's nice and warm and the next day it's snowy! But this year Easter came on a Spring day! Here are a few pictures of our Easter! The first few are pictures of a Spring Tea Party Ke'Nia and I went to along with her pre-school girl friends! The next ones are of the Community Egg Hunt Ridge, Ke'Nia and her cousin Gracie went on, and the last pictures are of Easter Morning! Somehow the Big boys escaped pictures...