Grandpa's New Toy

My boys love to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Whenever Davis has a day when he doesn't have school, and we have nothing planned, he starts to pack his bag to go. I ask him how he will get there, and he tells me that he is sure that Grandma will come and get him. One of their favorite things to do is ride the quads. My Dad has a mini-quad that Davis says when he turns 6 he can drive. Recently, my parents bought a mini side-by-side quad, and the boys love it!! Davis is still a bit small to drive it by himself, so Drew and I, or a bigger cousin are the drivers. I admit that I had fun driving it.

Here is Phoenix rolling all over Grandma's house. He managed to get stuck underneath the buffet.

Young Women Handouts

I made these journals for a lesson on "Personal Records", and the girls loved them!! I got the idea from my friend Maren (Thanks Maren!!). They turned out so cute!! On the front page I printed a quote from President Spencer W. Kimball. President Kimball says "I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to your families, to your children, your grandchildren, and others, on through the generations. Each of us is important to those who are near and dear to us and as our posterity read of our life's experiences, they, too will come to know and love us. And in that glorious day when our families are together in the eternities, we will already be acquainted." That should give us all a bit more motivation to write in our journals.

These rocks I made to go with my lesson on "Forgiveness". I am telling the story "Pockets Full of Rocks", which is a story of a man who whenever someone does something that offends him, he collects a rock. His house becomes overflowing with rocks, and some geology students come to see he vast rock collection, only to be disappointed that they are only plain, boring rocks. The professor of the class asks to see his "other" collection that reminds him of when people do nice things for him. In the end, he gets rid of his rocks, and takes up gardening instead. The rocks that I am handing out have a flower to remind the girls of the nice things, and on the back is Doctrine and Covenants 64:9-10, to remind them to forgive.

Davis' Last Day of Preschool

This is what we gave for teacher appreciation gifts. In the bundle, we put a bag of microwave popcorn and a Blockbuster gift card. I think they turned out cute. Drew thought that I spent too much time on them.

Today was Davis' last day of Preschool. I admit that I was more emotional about it than he was. Although hauling 3 kids back and forth to the school was a pain, I am really glad that he went to Preschool at Nicki's Place, and I know he loved it. He had absolutly fantastic teachers, which the whole family (well...maybe not Drew) grew to love. We will miss Miss Jill, Miss Roberta, Miss Shannon and Miss Floria. They kept asking me when Marcus and Phoenix are old enough to come to Preschool.

This is a chart that they had in the school to show how much the kids have grown since the beginning of preschool. I've really noticed that Davis has grown. At the beginning of the year, I would have to roll the legs of his pants up. Now, they are floods on him.

This was Davis' first day of school. I think he looks a little bit more grown up now.

We LOVE our Backyard

As most of you know, we recently moved into Grandpa Doug's house. We love having our own backyard, and a safe place for the kids to play. One sunny afternoon, while I was planting flowers, the boys decided that it would be a great idea to get on their swimming suits (or a "swimming soup" according to Marcus), and play in the water. It was the perfect afternoon. I can't think of anything much better than having your kids outside playing, while relaxing on the deck with a good book. Since Davis is into his tree climbing phase, he is really enjoying all the trees to climb. Karen, do you recognize our window covering in the basement window?

Live your Life...

While trying to prepare my YW Lesson on Being a Righteous Example, I found this handout, and I loved it!! It made me think about how I am living my life. Am I like this? Do people want to know Him because they know me? I do love the Church. There are so many blessings that have come into my life because of what I believe. I know that God lives, and I know that He loves me. I know that I am not perfect, and I struggle, but I want to be like Him.

"The Forgotten Garden"

This, without a doubt, was one of the best books I have read for awhile. I could not put it down!! This was absolutely a book where everything else in my life got a little neglected. I'd love to curl up in the "Man Chair", with a little snack (my snack of choice are those Pringle Honey Butter Wheat Sticks-YUM) and read.

"Comfort Food"

I read a lot. I admit that there are times when I get so immersed in what I am reading that I tend to neglect my duties and my children. I am posting what I read mainly for a record for myself, so I can see how much I really do read. I've always meant to write down everything, but I never have. I really loved Kate Jacob's "Friday Night Knitting Club" books, and so I was very excited that she wrote another book, based around something else I love...Food. When I was reading the "Knitting Club" books, they always made me want to be knitting. When I was reading "Comfort Food", I had a dream that someone from The Food Network approached me to host my own Cooking Show. I guess I get too involved in what I am reading. I do love to cook. And, I think I am getting fairly good at it; although one would never guess that I am a good cook if you looked at how skinny my husband is. I especially love to bake, and I will look for any excuse to bake something.

My Little Ballerina

Doesn't he look Precious!?! I made this Tutu for one of my nieces for her Birthday, and I had a very willing model to try it on to see if I had the flowers in the right places. He kept telling me that boys could wear Tutu's, and maybe I should make one for him. I don't think his Dad would be very impressed if I followed through on that idea. I think he liked it better than she did.