Baptism

Our beautiful family

So I finally found my cord to my camera. Sometimes it's just not worth blogging unless you have pictures to add. This is well worth the blog. I'm glad the cord was found.

M was baptized on Saturday the 26th of Sept. On her birthday! It just happened to be the stake baptism day. I was able to make her confirmation dress. The dress she was baptized in me, my 3 sisters, and so far my 4 nieces have worn it.

She was so nervous when she went in to get her interview. But when it was done she said, "That wasn't that bad." Then she said she was nervous about her baptism because she didn't know how long she'd be under the water. It wasn't that bad either. She was so wonderful. Chris was the one who got to baptize and confirm her. When she came out of the water and I was helping her get changed she was crying so hard. I hugged and kissed her and said it was okay and asked what was wrong. She said, "I'm just so happy." Then when she was confirmed she cried through the prayer. What a spiritual young woman I have. It was a wonderful day.

Later that night I opened her window to let some air in when they went to bed. I usually shut the window. She said, "I'm not scared mom, You know why? Because I have the Spirit now." Thanks to everyone who came.

Chris and M. The heirloom dress.

I made the hair bows. Same ribbon on her dress.

Our beautiful children. I made this dress.

M and Chris.

Grandpa Keith and Grandma Joey. My dad and mom.

Papa and Grammy. Chris' parents.

athriftymom

A thrifty mom is giving away free coupons. Just got to her website and sign up @ athriftymom.com

Free Self Reliance 72 hour kit!!

I love free stuff!! So the selfreliance.com is giving away yet another awesome item. If you are like me I don't have one!! It is one of their 2 person 72 hour kits!! Here is what is in it: This is a deluxe 72-hour kit for two people. Designed with a quick getaway in mind, this kit includes: • 1 two-person tube tent • 2 emergency ponchos • 12 boxes of emergency water • 2 emergency sleeping bags• 1 Deluxe first aid kit for two • 1 box of waterproof matches • 2 whistles • 2 Bio-wipe toilet paper • 1 Swiss Army style knife • 2 dust masks • 1 pair of leather gloves • 8 heat packs • 2 - 2400 calorie bars • 1 Flashlight • 1 AM/FM Radio • 1 Carrying BackPack • 2 AAA Batteries• 2 D Batteries• 2 tissue packs• 2 toothbrushes• 1 toothpastes.
This would be so awesome to win!!! Sign up by Friday the 24th and they announce the winner at noon. Their free giveaways are awesome and they do one every friday. I can't help it I have to enter. Thanks Kat for telling me about this website. I guess if this is the only thing I blog about lately it's worth it!! Especially if I win!!

Blog what?

So it has been forever since I updated this. Life just gets going and.... well you all know. So S has graduated from Preschool and is now ready to start Kindergarten. Z is getting into everything and M is almost done with the first grade!!!

Last month was crazy. I had to speak in our spanish branch... in spanish. For those that don't know me very well. I DON'T SPEAK SPANISH! So with Chris' help I read my talk. I had most of it traslated from a talk in the Liahona. Then Chris helped me translate my intro and my testimony. I read the whole thing in spanish. I had everyone listening... I guess that was good. But I was way nervous. Chris said I did a good job, but he has to say that. We have also sang in the spanish branch. Let me tell you that singing is way easier in spanish that speaking it.

S favorite word in my talk was posibilidades. Yes that means possibilities. He's been paying attention to the stupid commercials on tv. One week it was "mom we need to get Egglands best eggs, because they are the best egg." Then the next week it was "Mom we need possibilities." It took me longer to figure out what that was. It is campbles soup.. MMM good, possibilities. Their jingle.

I also did S preschool graduation. I made them caps and a little scrapbook. They sang a few songs, did the pledge of allegiance and told what they learn. It was very cute overall.

The big news with Chris and I if you haven't already heard... we are having another baby. I am 13 weeks along and we are NOT going to find out what this one is! This should be fun. Like my friend Kat said... it's not like it's going to change the sex of it if you do find out. True. We thought that this would be fun.

If it's a boy it will be Jonas. For a girl... Chris likes Rylee. I don't know if I like that, but I'm getting use to it. On the girl name the middle name has to rhyme with M and Z middle name. M is Elise and Z is Patreece. I didn't realize they rhymed until my cousin Denise said they rhyme. So if it's a girl it has to rhyme. Any ideas? We have thought of Janice. So we are excited. S says he wants a girl, but always talks about his brother Jonas.

Last week's fun

Majerle had a program at school on civil rights. It was very cute. She did a very good job singing all of the songs. She even had a speaking part.

Stockton and out co-op preschool went to the firestation last week. It was a lot of fun. The alarms even came on because they had a call, but it turned out to be a false alarm. We then got to continue our tour. They got to see where they slept, ate, and went to school. They got to see all of their gear and inside the trucks and the ambulance. It was fun.

The kids in the van

Zoi at Majerle's Program



I painted a name board for Stockton.

Chris painted this one for Zoi. Very cute.

Majerle decided she wanted a mirror instead of a name board. So she painted her own mirror for her room. It turned out pretty cute. She obviously put her name on it too. Lots of invented colors too. Love the imagination.

I'm so glad the chocolates are a big hit. We subbed for primary today. We were called as we were walking out the door. I brought those treats. Three of the kids got the website so they could make them. One of them even tried to bribe me with a plate of chocolate chip cookies for trade. Funny kids. I'll keep them up a little longer just in case anyone didn't get it.

I also found the coolest website: bkyi.com I was asked to speak in the Spanish Group in April. Many of you should know I don't speak Spanish. So I'm freaking out and looked all over for free spanish lessons. This website is so cool. I went to the Spanish ward today and heard some of the words I learned. I'm just going to write my talk. Chris will translate it and I will read it. There will be no elaboration. But I am still going to try to learn Spanish. What could it hurt right???

Homemade Oreos

So the recipe of the week I got off of sugardoodle.net. That is a very fun, very mormony website. It has ideas for Primary, YW, RS etc. They have recipes, FHE ideas, crafts to do. The home page shows the new things in the last 2 weeks then up at the top they are categorized. On valentine's day I made these and chocolate covered strawberries for Chris and the kids. They were so yummy we made them again. So as a request from Kat I put the recipe on. Enjoy gaining weight with these scrumptuous treats. :)

I just finished the second book I'm reading by Ally Carter. The third comes out in June. The first is I'd tell you I love you but then I'd have to kill you. The second is Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy. The third is Don't Judge a girl by her Cover. Good books if you ever want something to read.

2008 Chevy Uplander or McCloud

New Mini Van!!!!

We just got done buying a brand new mini van!!! We bought a 2008 Chevy Uplander for 13,000 with 13,000 miles!! Bronco Motors was awesome. Cris Dickerson was our salesman. We were in, test driving and out with a new van in 2 hours!! We are so excited. Now we can expand our family and not be worried where we are going to fit kids. No I'm not pregnant. It's white with pictures to come tomorrow in the light. We are so excited and can't wait to go to Washington in June in it!!!

What have I done?

This is a list of things that you have done and things that you have not done. Change the colors to reflect your own answers.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (never in a million years!)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (from my own fridge, left it in too long, was too lazy to cook something, went home from work sick, won't do that again)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill (once, I was so paranoid I'd get caught, I haven't done it since)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Ran a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (do you know how uncoordinated I am?)
32. Been on a cruise (too much water)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke (yes I suck)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
48. Gone deep sea fishing (don't like fish)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (again too much water)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class(karate in college, kinda fun)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching (I saw one on a ferry in the puget sound)
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (too high)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (maybe twice)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (still have my bear my dad gave me when I was born)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial(bigger than I thought)
71. Eaten Caviar (very salty, not a fan)
72. Pieced a quilt (more like a small one, for my mom's last christmas)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle -dirt bike of my own doing, but in the country, no one around
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book ( not yet, but I will!)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (I own one, but it was Chris' before we were married. He bought it brand new after his mission)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (a few times, choir, Miss Ephrata Pageant, school stuff)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House ( well maybe not, was just outside and took pics)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life- (my kids from choking many times?)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Harrison Ford's daughter, son and wife, when they were married)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (last summer, thought I was going to die, what a baby)
100. Been to the top of the Empire State Building

New pics

Here are the new pics from last week. M was a 100 year old lady on her 100th day of school. Z learned how to unzip her pj's. S and M got a hold of the camera. M made a lego man and put him in the crib so he was safe. Z loves the rocker and was reading. S got bored one day and decided to go sledding in our back yard in the trampoline box. I'm glad my kids still have imaginations.

Okay so I'm slacking a lot this week. I have gotten nothing done in my house. What's new. I'll have to download some pics tomorrow when I actually have time... or maybe Saturday. The recipe was up extra long this week. Z found the zipper to her pj's this week. It was fun trying to keep them on her. At least she didn't pull a M and strip for the whole night. M made a lego man and put him in Z crib so he didn't get ruined. S took the camera and took pics of his loving monkey. M had her 100th day of school today and dressed like an old lady. Chris found a few grey hairs this week. Last week when we actually had snow S used our trampoline box as a sled. It was very productive I guess as fun for the kids go.

Last night we went to the Library to watch Horton Hears a Who. It was a very cute show. Kat and kids came too. It was fun, but I think my kids ate all the popcorn. I guess that's what happens when you decide you don't want to eat your dinner!

Our Favorite Elder

We had an awesome Hawaiian missionary here named Elder Alisa. Chris was actually friends with his brother in the MTC (small world). So we got to know him really well. He would come over to have dinner when they didn't have it. Even if I had to throw them food through the door because Chris wasn't here. We always like to make sure the missionaries are fed. Especially if we like them. Elder Alisa would bring his ukelele over once in awhile and sing to us. He had a very good voice. One of the songs he would sing for us was "Somewhere over the Rainbow" the version on our blogspot. So the other day it started playing when I pulled up our blog. Stockton heard it and said, "When is Elder Alisa going to come here again?" I told him, "In the summer." He said,"He has to live in that other place for a long time!" I said,"Well the summer is when he gets to go home and is done with his mission. Then he'll be able to come over in his jeans and t-shirt and not a suit." He said, "Oh... then he'll be a real man." The thoughts of a four year old. Some of the things kids say you just have to share. They are just too funny not to!

The kids

Z saw me take the picture of S dancing and she was cheezing. The next is S dancing. M loves to draw. Tonight she just chilled in the rocker and drew. We finally had a warm enough day to play on the trampoline. The kids had fun. Tonight we had Parmesean Chicken. It was really good. Now we just need to figure out how to get S to eat anything with a seasoning on it. He just looks at it until we make him take a bite. At least he doesn't throw it up.

What's important

Saturday night I asked M if she wanted to stay at her dad's another night or go to church and she said I don't care if I go to church or not. I hung up the phone. It was his weekend and usually we pick them up for church, I think that is very important. I was upset all weekend. Not knowing what to say to her when she got home. Our lessons in church definitely helped. When they got home they were sent straight to the bath and after they were done we sat down and talked. We decided to let them know why we attend church. We told them they get to take the sacrament every Sunday. It helps us remember Jesus and that he died and suffered for our sins so we can live with him again. We also told them that they get to go and learn more about Jesus. M is getting baptized this year and I think that's what upset me the most. I will pray every night that they will be able to make the right choices. But Chris and I realized that we need to make some changes too. We always read the scriptures at night as a family. We use the Book of Mormon for Latterday Saint Families. It has extra quotes and questions at the bottom to help children and adults understand better and makes you think about what you are reading. Last night we did something different. We had the kids get their scriptures. M can read so we had her read a few verses. S just held his Book of Mormon. Chris went through and stopped every few verses and asked questions. I hope this works better. They always asked questions, but M reading will help her understand better too.

I always hope that I can be a good example to my kids so they will want to go to church later in life. Sometimes it just takes a jolt to realize I need to do more.

When I went to check on them at bedtime both of them had tears in their eyes. I told them I loved them and we weren't mad. I was just disappointed. I told them it's good that they want to spend time with their dad. But they need to be the example to him too. They don't have prayers at all over there. We told them they need to say prayers together. Even if their dad doesn't want to. They can say them together. They can tell their dad they want to go to church. They can tell him that they want to say prayers. They should want their dad to be a better person so he can see them sealed in the temple one day.

I hope we were good examples to them last night. I hope they will remember who they are and remember that we love them.

Z Praying

Last night I went and had a shower. Z got a hold of my shirt and was parading around the living room. She had managed to get it on. Backwards, but on. She thought she was the queen of the ball.

Okay I finally got a new background. The cutest blog on the spot is down right now so I used a different one. I got Kat added to Facebook!! Now I'm sure her husband is practicing voodoo on me because I have a headache today. Just kidding about the voodoo. I decided that I'm going to have a recipe of the week on here. My cousin Brad's wife on their website have recipes. I thought that would be very fun. So look for a recipe on my blog. I'll have to think of some other ideas to put on here. Maybe a craft for kids to do with you once a week or something.

Kat showed me how to post things!! Yeah!! Thanks to Kat. now when I have time I can actullay make it look cute.... maybe.