A DAY TO GO DOWN IN HISTORY!

Today I Voted! For me, I don't like to do an early ballot because I love the feeling that I get when I go down to the Voting Booths. Today that feeling started swelling up as My oldest daughter and I walked through the parking lot and into the polling place. It was a sweet feeling, almost brought me to tears. I could feel the Love of an all knowing Heavenly Father allowing his diverse children the freedom of choices to be made.
Whenever there is choice there is consequence. I Love to know my choices and I am willing to live up to the consequences!
I was reminded this morning of a trip we took our children on this past summer back to Missouri.


We took a walk down the "TRAIL OF HOPE" here is what we found:

The trail of Hope was the path the Early Pioneers took as they were leaving behind the beautiful city of Nauvoo they had worked so hard at building.

Here is the view, as many took one last look before they crossed the frozen River.
What consequences these Saints had to bear because of the choices they made.
How GRATEFUL I am to them for the choices they made and consequences they lived! The Lord supported them and protected them.
Oh how the choices that I make today are not just for me. "God, please Bless us on our Journey!"

""JACK BE LITTLE" jack be quick Jack jumped over the candle stick!"

Howdy everyone! This year I let my Children choose what they each wanted to be for Halloween instead of everyone kinda being the same thing. This is what they came up with. It was so much fun!

Here is our cowgirl! She likes to have fun! Yeah haw! She is carefree and can laugh at herself. (Shes a lot like me in that I am such a wanna be farm chick) This girl is down right thoughtful! We are so blessed to have her smile in our home!



Next is our little "butterfly flower girl" she called it. She is quite the little lady.... she flitters and flutters and keeps us all on our toes. Its as if she has wings because of the places she goes. She truly makes us smile!







Here is our little "Snow Princess" who is growing up quite quickly. (she just turned 5 the day before this picture was taken) She loves the Bling in pretty things. She is so warm and cozy! She lets me hold her often and she loves to cuddle. I Love her sweet soft touch as she carresses my face. She looks so pretty!



This handsome boy is not just pretending. He really is a Hunter! He just completed his gun safety course. He LOVES discovering the great outdoors and Gods amazing animals. He is very practical..... he needed some new camo anyway! He has a big role in our Family....Hes the oldest and the only boy of 4 sisters!!!! He is such a Protector and a Provider! We Love this little Man!







Big Sister here dosn't have her glasses and a few other accessories that totally make her outfit. You see She changed her mind several times from a beautiful American girl doll to being set on a cheerleader up until the last day when she KNEW she was to be ....Olivia.....Nate the Grates Cousin. Olivia is a detective. She really likes the books. I Love how she can see all her Options! That is real talent if you ask me! She is very good at figuring things out, one of a kind and has alot of peeps that look up to her! She even made her own Detective cards!




It was so fun to have Uncle John and Aunt Marcy Stop By for some of ME's Apple Beans!



Life is good in the Hood!

"Life is made up of little choices, like Brown or white rice."----- fortune cookie

TIME FOR FALL CLEANING

School was canceled this week! We did some SERIOUS fall cleaning!! Drawers, closets and shelves were all emptied. The washers and dryers were running non-stop... thank Heavens for frontloaders! The toys were all bagged up in black garbage bags to sit in the sun....Yeah, I wish that this cleaning was really just a scheduled part of this time of years routine....only this year...this isn't the case....We had Lice! EWWWWW!! Sick, I know. Talk about a Royal pain too! I've Never had them or seem them before, so this was all a very new experience. So really let me say... school wasn't really all that canceled? We did learn a lot about lice: Lice=more than one. A Louse=1. (kinda like mice and mouse) What is their purpose?: To make miserable even those of castles, bungalows and cleanest of all clean places? They live off from the blood they get from our heads....They lay eggs even up to 6 a day! Their cycle has to be interuptted as quickly as possible. Eventually the adults will grow up and die but... they can leave eggs and babies. AHHHH. I really hope that you don't get them. I apologize in advance if you do get them. So I'm telling you now look out for the first sign of itching! (some of our heads didn't itch) I'm sorry we didn't know sooner.... they might not have spread to all 6 of our heads (I had them too!) They love clean hair. I stayed up late Sunday night reading all about them and found that they do not jump. But they love being passed through sharing of brushes, hats, furniture, clothing ect. (how can you keep 5 girls in the house from sharing brushes?)

If you ever need to know.....this might help. This is how we have (Hopefully) gotten rid of them:

I added some TEA TREE OIL drops to olive oil in a little spray bottle and sprayed it all in their hair, especially the roots and scalp. My girls have long hair so it helped a ton with the tangles. We then combed it out with 2 DIFFERENT TYPES OF METAL TEETH COMBS/PICK THINGY. The teeth are closer together being metal in hopes to get every egg possible! I then washed the hair with a TEA TREE SHAMPOO in which I added some more drops of TEA TREE OIL. (I love the smell) We blow dried and straitened hair with a hot hair straitener. We follow up with daily brushings!! I will do the two hour PICKING/COMBING thing and oil thing again in 10 days from the first. Oh, You might want to test the tea tree oil on the back of your arm to make sure there is no allergic reactions first. I also added some oil to the laundry and dried everything in dryer (they can't live in extreme heat.) Hope this helps if needed, but hopefully you wont ever need it!
A friend asked us thinking for sure we got Lice at school! We just laughed and laughed together when I informed her that we actually started Schooling at Home this year! How funny huh.?! Now lets see....this just proves that you really CAN"T shelter your children from everything! (one of the comments we get re: homeschool. (Sheltering is not our Main purpose of homeschool anyways... ) ) BUT....It is a great start to our study of the Human Body for October though! Ha Ha Ha!
We are so looking forward to General Conference, Hanging with my Parents, sister & cousins this week as We are headed off to Salt Cedar Ranch! Have a Happy lice free week all!

September is over already? We are just waiting for it to cool down! Wait till you see what we're going to do with these "Jack be little" pumpkins.?!!!

CREATIVE WAY TO UPDATE???.....

• *Woke up next to my sweetie this morning! (and my other sweetie...Dixie)
  
• *Family Scripture Study...Ammon almost chopped off some arms!
• *Piano
• *Shower and made sure I put Mosquito Armor on (the Mosquitoes are horrible!)
• *Breakfast of Blueberry Smoothie and Rice cakes with Peanut butter dotted with Raisins
• *Tidy up our house as we listen to the latest world news
• *Started school at 9 with our little morning devotional. Colored a picture of a house and cut out the flowers. To be pasted on the house when a good deed or a happy helpful attitude has been put to action. We all agreed that its the people in the house and the things that go on inside that make a Home, not just a House
• *Got out our Planners and planned the rest of the day
• *Peyton continued planning out and working in the garden
• *Daisy and I studied and read
• *Marni and Dixie worked on the computer
• *Millie turned on the music and sang with the Red Balloons
• *Math time great lesson with our Abacus and Venn Charts. Played a math game "Go to the Dump"
• *Marni and Dixie Made us lunch of Cheese crisps and yummy pears and glasses of water, as we were finishing up our math. They called it Bashas Restaurant because they gave us our food in a Bashas grocery sack.
• *Piano
• *More Piano
• *Put Dinner in the Crockpot
• *finished up more stuff on our lists, reading and writing
• *Almost finished making the next Three Months worth of Menus! yeah
• *Lost music bells, found music bells!
• *Dixie and I went to music class
• *Home to finish dinner (thanks to Daisy who had the salad made and the water boiling for the Noodles) kiss Marsh and Peyton Good-bye off to football, and gun safety class
• *Daisy's friend came over to play
• *Cleaned up Dinner Dishes
• *Some fun friends stopped by, had a fun visit, my legs were dinner for the Mosquitos, Millie got soaken wet in Neighbors sprinkler, she brought me a pretty rock
• *played magnet dolls with Millie
• *Went to Yoga
• *took Marni to get a Junior Banana Split and talk
• *My boys came home Daisy told her Dad she missed him
• *Peyton didn't do something earlier It Irritated me but he said "I will do so much better, I'm sorry Mom." and I know he will cuz he is a good kid
• *Marsh and I talked for a bit about a few things of our day
• *He fell asleep reading his book and I think I'm now going to join him in a few
• *retract the day and plan for tomorrow (might as well do it on the blog...since it's been on my list...would that be MULTI-TASKING?)
  
• *Fall asleep next to my Sweetheart!

We've been away so long!! So much to share!!....... But for now this is what you could find us up to on saturday. While the children and I were preserving some peaches... ME was doing a little preserving himself...

He loves the good ohl days, thats for sure.....

It's funny! One of these guys ends up marrying my little sister and then introduces me to my ME!!! Ha! This is all pre mission of course! He apologizes in advance to the subjects!

A great summer day of Flags and Strawberries!

The Red White and Blue was waving up and down our street Today!
Happy Flagday to You!


My Daisy sewed her very own Strawberry pajama bottoms this afternoon!!!

Vintage Junque Fair

VINTAGE JUNQUE FAIR

I've got alot of JUNQUE that's for sure!!! I'm ready to let go! It's good stuff, just not good for me anymore.... Not good for me anymore , not good for me anymore, not good for me any more! (My new saying)
("It's all too much!" ---- I LOVE that book!)
Thus the return of the THIRD semi-annual "Vintage Junque Fair.....Where one man's JUNQUE is another man's TREASURE!"
(I'm not cured...I will still be looking out for items that will fit the empty spots!)
There will be many Great Vintage finds Saturday Bright and Early, Let's beat the heat!
It will be a Great time!

First Day of Summer Break!

"Grab your RAINboots and your SNOWboots, Let's go to Grandma B's!"

"FOUR LITTLE, FIVE LITTLE BLESSINGS FROM ABOVE!"

I LOVE BEING A MOTHER! Ever since I can remember...... I've always dreamed of having.... a family of my own! One of my most favorite things to do was to play house! I loved dolls! I had lots of babies. One of my favoriteist baby dolls was the "REAL lookin" one. People would have to look twice to see if I was carrying around a real baby! Sometimes...... I think that I'm still "playing house".... because.... being a real Mother Is so enjoyable!

There is nothing like it, nor words to describe it!


The experiences are priceless.........
First times...... tasting the many different smells, textures, colors and flavors of the many delicious foods that God has created for us!


Sooo many emotions.........
We can't let dark clouds hoover over our heads......, it's up to us to make the sunshine in our homes!


For there is much to do with our time.........
like cleaning up..
"Heavenly Messes!"........


with a "helping hand"
we will be done in no time flat!


Speaking of time........Only TWO more weeks until schools out and counting!
I'm so excited to have my babies home and around me......
we are going to "take a break from summer Break!" What are you going to do?

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO MY MAMMA!

She's a "foxy" lady with such "class".....
She really understands me......
She really inspires me......
We love to be together...........
I am what I am...because of my Mother!
She has taught me well of my Savior Jesus Christ....
She has showed me and taught me how to find beauty in everyday life!
I'm so glad that I chose her for my MOTHER!
I absolutely LOVE Her!!!!

ALSO A HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO MY SISTERS, TO MY FRIENDS, TEACHERS AND TO ALL THE WOMEN IN THE WORLD!! ---- YOUR INFLUENCE AND YOUR GODLY TRAITS WILL NEVER GO UNNOTICED!

"Don't she Look Sweet, the dear!"

The other day Marni was invited to a friend's Fancy Tea Party at Mrs. Potts tea parlor. There were over 200 dresses for the girls to choose from! Here is the red dress that she chose! Doesn't she look Beautiful?!!! I asked her why she put her shirt over the dress and She informed me, that "the dress had but only one sleeve!" I was so happy for her!!

Her face was fair and
pretty, with eyes like
two bits of night sky,
each with a star
dissolved in the blue.
those eyes you would
have thought must have
known they came from
there, so often were
they turned up in
that direction.- George Macdonald

Obviouse from this experience It's never too early to teach our little ones that being Modest is an outward reflection of our Hearts!

"Don't she look Sweet, the dear!"- by Louisa May Alcott - Under the Lilacs

Lets Celebrate Birthdays all Month Long!

I'm feeling like this little lady today that would get up to bear her testimony in church every fast sunday, she would always say " this is the birthday month of my sweet.."..and name the name of her child and so on and so forth. It seemed that every month was a birthday month! We would all take a deep breath and knew she meant the best. (take a deep breath now) Well, I have another birthday to tell YOU about today! I'm Posting late, even though her birthday has come and gone I'd like to wish my sweetie a:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH MARNI!

Big 6, What a fun day! Thank-you Heavenly Father for letting such special girl come into our lives and add so much sunshine! Being your Mom is so rewarding!
Your sister Daisy did a great job at taking the following pictures:


"How does your garden Grow Marni?"



In my lovely garden my
summer squash are loving their square foot!




These are the "GARDEN GIRLZ" They come individually so that you can make a little garden Town.

Taking all the proper steps "Violet Bloom's" cottage is now in full Bloom! I'd have to say it looks so beautiful up on the book shelves where it gets some happy sunshine! Can you imagine What it would be like to live inside? Violet's favorite Hobby is Painting! Her card also says that she loves color, shes bright, and always loves to have fun! Rosie Bud Loves to sing, dance and play. Her fun spirit inspires all she meets. She is always making new friends and loves going to garden parties!
This Mom LOVES these fun toys and the DAD sometimes wishes I could just grab something Quick and go AND sometimes I have to REMIND him, that being a MOTHER takes time and KNOWING what kind of toys come into our home is so important! They have such a big impact on our Children! If your looking for something great and don't already have these I promise they are great fun! Maybe your shopping trip will be snappier than mine?????
Thank-you "Summit toys" for coming up with the- "GARDEN GIRLZ!"

A letter to My Hungry Hungry Bear

Dear Peyton,

A lot of work went into getting this award!! Good job Boy! The past couple of years have been so worth it and you have had many examples of great leaders! How fun it was to watch you put on those funny bear gloves and fumble around in all those leaves in search of all those gummy worms! You sounded just like a starving bear coming out of hibernation! Thanks for not poking me with the pin as you pinned it on my shirt! Thank-you for making me so happy that night and yes! I did hold back a couple of tears because I felt so very proud of you my boy, we were in the right place at the right time because of the good choices you made to work hard! I do have to apologize of my attitude. I had the attitude of going through the motions of scouts each week because thats just part of the program, and thats just what so many boys your age are doing. Scouts. (I don't think I had ever been to a pack meeting before your first pack meeting) as it came to the end where he had some goals to finish and the pressure was on I almost gave up son! I asked your Dad (whose an Eagle Scout by the way) "Do we care if he gets these Scout awards?" He cared! Thats why he came home from work early to help you that day! And So All day long, and I mean all day long I read and studied that Bear book figuring what goals you had already done and what you had left to do. I am so glad that I put a million other things off that day, let me tell ya! I am grateful for this program! After learning so much more about the"Scouts" program I am thrilled at what all it has to offer! This is the kind of training I want you to have!!! My attitude has completely changed and I will do much better in taking an active role in this program! It is the kind of Tool that helps a Mama in bringing up her little boy to be a well rounded man of God and a very fine husband and father! (just like your Dad!) Keep up the good work buddy! We have so many great times ahead of us!
Love you,
Mom

P.S. Happy Birthday! Has it really been 10 years already?

At Conference Time

Our little family was asked to sing in church last Sunday (Random huh?) so we picked a song that really expresses how we feel about this blessed Conference Time!


AT CONFERENCE TIME

Of all the Sundays of the year, the ones I love the best
are Conference Sundays twice a year, so different from the rest.
I gather with my family and feel the Spirit near
as I prepare to understand the messages I hear!

At Conference time, at Conference time, the Brethren teach me what to do.
So I can live in Happiness, at Conference time, and all year through.

The Scriptures are a History of prophets gone before
Their timeless words were written then to teach forever more.
But what an opportunity I have on Conference day
to hear a living Prophet who is showing me the way!

At Conference time, at Conference time, the Brethren teach me what to do.
So I can live in Happiness, at Conference time, and all year through.

I hear the special witnesses of Jesus Christ our Lord.
they testify of gospel truth and teach God's Holy Word.
So now when Conference time is past, the thing for me to do
is follow well what I've been told, and prove that it is true!

At Conference time, at Conference time, the Brethren teach me what to do.
So I can live in Happiness, at Conference time, and all year through!
At Conference time, and all year through!

We thought we'd miss having T.V. in our home when it came to times like Conference! (and Ballgames) We did not miss it a bit, Infact we had more options this year without T.V. than we did when we had it! One of the places we caught conference was LIVE HERE. Hope you'll get to listen if you haven't already!

Happy Spring Everyone!

Is Your Easter Bunny as Funny as Ours?

Thats not a basket thats a Hat!!

Cute Tin......Hey, Did that come from Globe?

Little Millie loved her chocolate, not just hers but Everybodies!




Some fun spring surprises! The dad is in the lead and mamas keepin up with all those little chicks a following!



Baaaaaaaa!

But the BEST thing we love about Easter time.....we cannot show you in pictures! It's something that is even hard for words to describe....... it's a feeling ......Oh we wish ALL of our Family and Friends could have joined with us, (Especially you) at the Easter Pageant Last Tuesday Evening! It was Awesome! The very last part in this play when everything comes together, when Jesus Christ is Risen, the choir and angels are singing and I know I was in that chorus in Heaven at that time just a rejoicing and singing too about what our older brother Jesus Christ had just done for us! I know it because I had to contain myself on Tuesday night and let the Choir sing on! I felt it though, in my heart!! And all over!! He Lives! I Know He does! I watched a couple get up afterwards with tears in their eyes too! I wondered could this be the first time they ever felt this feeling? I squeezed my babies tighter. Did they feel this feeling? Who did not feel this feeling that night? This feeling had to strike a familiar cord with everyone there! For we are all part of His Divine Plan! Thats why it is familiar! We are not here on this Earth by accident, how lonely that would be, We ARE on purpose Children of God!
all of us! Love ya brother or sister!


(Mom, Marc and Megs thanks for the good seats!)


Does This mean were going Green?

Some people come up with the NEATEST creations! I picked this one up at my nearest Target
soap department it happens to be made here in Scottsdale, Az.!! ( I Love to buy local) It smells so nice and leaves me pure and natural!! Ha Ha!! Let me tell you the best part! (watch out this is where we go green!)

They come in a set of two for a few bucks, they are 99.9% natural AND (I didn't even know this till I opened it up) The containers Look really cool like egg cartonish but.....................

You plant them in the ground! Yes I repeat, you plant them in the ground! They are infused with babies breath seeds! Smart, wouldn't you say?


The Boys have been workin real hard around here lately, ITS PINEWOOD DERBY TIME! Yes the cool car IS ASU colors! (Last years was the Phoenix Suns colors) Peyton for now anyways, is "thinking" that He wants to go to ASU, instead of BYU. Better for me! I would miss him too much!

Time flies!

Oops! This picture was supposed to be last, oh well, Has it really been that long since our last Post. Heres a few things we've been up to lately........Teaching Millie to be soft to her new friends!
Look at these CUTE CHICKS!!! And One Good lookin ROOSTER!
I know its dark, seems were busy from morning to night. Painting up the Coop!
Dixie was Our Student of the week last week at evergreen cottage!


ES
She got to show her class her chicks, oh by the way they are 3 weeks old (Since we got them) and growing! Snap, I posted the painting one twice. Sorry! Cute coop though huh?