Inside Our Bungalow

My Favorite Math Lesson

2009-11-09T15:21:00.021-07:00

One of my favorite math lessons was when we made a pumpkin patch. How we did it was we cut out all different shapes and sizes for the pumpkins,then we cut out different stems leafs,and vines. After that we glued them onto a Popsicle stick and wrote how many pounds we wanted them to be. Then we wrapped up a shoebox with some cute wrapping paper and stuck them in. My mom gave each of my customers 20 dollars in different change in play money.

Before my stand even opened, I had a long line of customers already waiting!!!
One of them threatened to go to the stand down the road the line was sooo long... but my mom told him that he would not find any better pumpkins, pretzles and apple cider than we had here.

This activity turned out to be more than just a math lesson. We all learned to be patient on both sides of the cash register. After all, it was a great time!

2009-10-06T14:09:00.003-07:00

Hello there! How are you enjoying life? We've been a little closed up lately. I'd have to say I didn't realize that it had really been that long since we invited you "inside our bungalow?"
There is really so much detail to catch you up on but let me just do that throughout time, if you don't mind, for today I just have to say "Thank-you" to my sweet Children.
Dear Sweet Children,
Even though we are not following our "ideal" schedule this month while tending to our "need" to "go through, pack up, and throw out," I am so thankful that you are home with me. This is a time that you and I will never forget as we "carefully" consider what it is that We DON"T need in order for our family to be Happy! I also Love how you have added that to our family prayers. I did notice how good you all got along together today! Thank-you for spending your time wisely. Love you,
Mom

We have just had some of the greatest moments ever that I know would have never come had they not been at my knees. Having my children home with me is one of my life's sweetest treasures.
So Ive been asked well a few dozen times what it was that "moved me" to home school? And well what makes that such a tricky question is that 1. a lot of times the person asking really already "knows" the answer so you just have to smile and look as crazy as they think you are or 2. They give you 30 seconds or less before you loose their attention due to simply lack of attention or distraction of some sort. 3. Some want details and to them I give. Now, I am about to give "some" the details. Stick around if you'd like! I am no pro, some days are harder than others, but I LOVE Homeschooling. I've been doing it for a year and I have learned so much and met some really great people! My intention is not to make anyone feel uncomfortable I'm simply going to answer a question for "some" regarding my very own personal experience. I am going to refer to an awesome article that doesn't necessarily tell everyone to home school but for me personally it has led me down that road. My goal with sharing the article is that something crazy is going on in the world and this sums it up for me. It gave me great courage to tackle and sort my feelings. So here take a read if you'd like: Three Tools to build a Sacred Home by Shirley R. Klein. I first found this in the Ensign July 2007. I still remember where I was when I read it and how it made me feel. Even today as I reread it I found something that I'm going to improve on. Anyways I had been experiencing for a while some uneasy feelings. I felt like I was living someone Else's life. Living from deadline to deadline. I was finding my self getting frustrated easy, grouchy and tired. To describe I felt "Ripped off" of my Motherhood.
My Man and I made the decision that I would stay home to raise our family. But my family was never home. And really I don't have any teenagers so that would mean that it gets crazier here on out. But arn't these the most "sponge" like years.
I often would have to go to the school to help as a parent helper and of course I wanted to be a part of their education. I wanted to see what they were learning ect. and I would have to get a babysitter for that. I had 3 children in school at the time. When they would come home they would get the "grouchy" mom. Do your Homework! Hurry lets go, do this do that ect.. We don't have time! Geepers really all as they would want to do is to be a kid. When do they play and are not just entertained?
Well and then It was time for decisions.....Send your child to school at age four.....half a day is one thing and all day is another! Yet not even speaking of pre k and preschool, all to get them out of the home so that they will be ready for what? There was talk at the time to extend the school day and I asked a couple of friends if they thought that the school day was already too long like I did? Nope. I really thought am I going nuts? I was confused. I don't know how others function but we we struggling with consistency and guilt feelings of chores/or letting them take that time to just be a kid and play? I felt like I was all talk to the kids and no follow through.
I simply had to Reevaluate my priorities. What talents and skills did the Lord bless me with, what interests. What did the Lord want me to teach his children? Well I found that I was not living up to just that and soon realized that that was where my frustrating and grouchy were coming from. An unsatisfied feeling. I knew I did not have all the answers but I knew that If God wanted me to do this that he would lead me to what I needed. And I truly believe he has and is! It's a process!
As I finished out the rest of the school year it became even more evident of the need for me to teach them at home. They were all straight A students. But junk like....so the earth is going to burn up and..... I have to add...I would have a hard time teaching something if I didn't have passion and personality for it so of course that will happen. But they are changing text books to meet the needs of the 21st century learner! ha.
I felt like they were coming home pretty zoned out like an old man at the end of the day going to his nothing box. They gave all they had throughout the school day.
The start of this past public school year parents were receiving notices that there would not be anymore free early morning breakfast. But that it would be provided for every student in the classroom!! What?? So children are a # and they have a lot to do with money for the school? But a Child can tell the teacher that he or she already ate breakfast at home. Bonk then in the trash goes the food? I don't get it. Tell me I'm wrong. Isn't there some cut backs that can be made like.....like Don't make my child breakfast? Yes! of course there are "REAL" needs... but don't just assume every child "NEEDS" breakfast. Meal time happens to be one of my most favorite times to spend as a family. Now they are telling us that we don't have to cook for our families any more? Wait. I may not even have to buy food any more because this last week our President of the United States said to keep up we need to take school into the weekend and summers and....didn't I hear Mr. Tom Horne offer to take our children off our hands as if we are to sigh and say...."Oh thank-you!" Isn't meal time one of THE most valuable tools we have as Mothers? The Fathers are working so stinking hard in this financial time and then it still isn't enough? Go mother, Go to work for it is crisis time!
This week is a really big week for the push of making service apart/mandatory in our schools and colleges? I think that service is vital but let it happen when someone feels the need for when it comes from the heart it comes with love not the opposite to get gain like the little school group who tattled to their city council and then the streams were cleaned up. What is going on here?
Just what is a Mother to do when she is invaded?
Mothers....WE ARE CAPABLE and right now we CAN say...."NO-THANK YOU!!!"

Inspired by Nature

2009-03-12T12:34:00.005-07:00

I found my feathered friends' nest on the ground today.
What a Resourceful Bird.

I could end this post there but my thoughts go on. I wonder why the birdies left it?
Will we have to leave this home that we love someday?

What I love about my neighborhood

2009-03-12T10:07:00.003-07:00

This is why I was drawn to and love my neighborhood! People still hang clothes out on the line to dry!! I want one so bad. My Laborsaving devices (2 sets) were supposed to give me more "time"?? Do you think I'm crazy and loosing my mind? But listen, I am discovering that I don't have any more time than my mother and Grandmothers had 3 decades ago before these laborsaving devices were introduced! Well, It's been suggested to me that maybe instead, what I am doing with my time IS "less satisfying." My family and I function on a hurried, busy, overstressed, deadline to deadline type of schedule. Even though we are happy and Id like to say somewhat productive, I have to tell you though, "I AM feeling a little unsatisfied." Maybe "I am" depriving my children of the sweet lessons that I learned at the clothesline with my mamma. Maybe "we do" have too many clothes that we just let the laundry pile up all the while our closets and drawers draw empty. It's easier that way. Maybe my favorite shirt doesn't get worn as much as Id like because now I CAN'T afford the dry cleaner anymore! Whoa.....how did I come so far that I don't even iron. How is my boy ever going to learn that there is nothing more handsome than a young man in his fresh pressed clean white shirt to match the message that he gets to share with the world? Oh the lessons we could learn from the everyday same oh same oh redundant tasks. And the sweet lessons I have learned from my dear mother at the clothesline.
"Hanging laundry on a line is one of life's luxuries. It represents time. Time to be alone. Time to think, even to meditate, accompanied by the repeated actions of hanging clothes-stooping, straightening, lifting, hanging, breathing, watching the clouds. There is a spirituality in the simple, positive actions of this everyday activity." * Little did I know that maybe the walk that I did take this day can inspire me and "reconnect" me with my Mother, my grandmothers, sisters and women over the generations and help me to obtain a more simpler way of life. I miss the country so bad but the lessons from my neighbors clothesline have inspired me once again to bring those more simpler days of my childhood to my children at our "city bungalow!"
Do you hang out your clothes?

*Quote and some additional inspiration has come from a neat book that I found over a year ago at a fabric store. It immediately grabbed me! When I got home from this walk the other day I grabbed the book off the shelf and sat down with it hoping that it would motivate me to get back up and get my laundry done. It has! I highly recommend it for those in the Art of Homekeeping!

2009-02-11T23:00:00.003-07:00

I had true motherly bliss today. My three year old put all the dishes away from the dish washer, all by herself, And in the right place! This is becoming something she really loves to do. Today was a new one though she LOADED the dishwasher. ( a few breakfast dishes) My inner conversation was, as I was helping the others with their writing, to tell her that "now is not the right time, get down," but I enjoyed watching her be so busy that I wondered who was having more fun at that moment me or her. How sweet sweet it was! I'm amazed. I think I have totally underestimated the capabilities of a young child. Maybe she is ready for the rotation?
Bliss- to rejoice, to exult, to congratulate, to applaud; to rejoice. The highest degree of happiness; blessedness. - 1828 Webster dictionary

Sisters trip to Globe

2009-02-09T23:23:00.015-07:00

I just Love Families! What would we do without them? I'm so grateful for mine.
We work, play, cry, laugh, sing, learn, and spend time together. When I look at this picture of my Mother and her sisters I can't help but think of the memories that my four little "girlies" are creating together.

My Dear Mother is third one over from the left. I want you to know that She is still as Beautiful (and stylin) today as she was back then. She amazes me! I Hope you had a Happy Birthday Mom.

Here are my sisters and I still playing, laughing, crying, sharing, antiquing and gaining strength from each other. What an incredible weekend together! It was hard getting there with all of our busy lives but sweet to know that we are all still workin on creating some memories that will last forever! Thank-you to all the hubbies, children, and grammies for supporting us and helping make this trip possible for us.

Hhhhmmmmmm.

A DAY TO GO DOWN IN HISTORY!

2008-11-04T11:21:00.012-07:00

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!"

2008-11-03T22:24:00.022-07:00

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!

2008-10-26T19:39:00.002-07:00

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

TIME FOR FALL CLEANING

2008-10-03T23:01:00.005-07:00

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!

2008-09-30T15:57:00.002-07:00

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???.....

2008-09-25T23:23:00.008-07:00

*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!

2008-08-24T17:17:00.004-07:00

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!

2008-06-15T16:54:00.006-07:00

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

2008-06-02T21:01:00.002-07:00

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!

2008-05-23T08:40:00.002-07:00

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

"FOUR LITTLE, FIVE LITTLE BLESSINGS FROM ABOVE!"

2008-05-11T22:42:00.021-07:00

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!"

2008-05-06T23:04:00.007-07:00

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!

2008-04-25T08:54:00.015-07:00

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

2008-04-14T21:23:00.007-07:00

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

2008-04-06T20:50:00.004-07:00

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!

2008-03-25T20:53:00.007-07:00

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!

2008-03-09T16:25:00.009-07:00

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?

Reviews anyone?

2008-01-27T20:09:00.000-07:00

Oh how much fun that was! I just got in from puddle jumping with my Boy!! The storm has hit us tonight! The water running down the street almost came up over our feet of our rain boots and in some spots it came up to our ankles. We were not the only ones out, we found lots and lots of earth worms. Does Anyone know why that is? We felt like they were so happy for the rain that they too came out to play! Thank-you Heavenly Father for the Rain and for my boy!
My man is now starting to read #2 of a what he rates" Excellent " titled- "The Banner is Unfurled." He says, "I really Love these books!" He is impressed at how unshaken the early saints were when they decided to join the Church amid all the persecutions, "they were such Honest people!" ( I LOVE church history!! ) He said that this family built a home in the flats behind the Newell K Whitney store in Kirtland Ohio! What a beautiful place! (you know how much I Love the Ohio, don't you?) I can't wait to read them! Oh and by the way they are my Mans relatives! (I think I made a good choice for his christmas present this year, whew!) I'll keep you up on any other REVEIWS from my Man!!
Speaking of reveiws the following incident literally motivated me to put down what I was doing right then and their and do some research. I had let my children borrow a movie and watch it before I could watch first, I took the easy way out even though my feelings were unsure and uneasy I gave in to pressure thinking how bad could this animated movie be anyway? So anyhow heres my story: My little girls had their cousin "Ruthie" over to play on Saturday. After playing for awhile they came in wanting to watch a movie. They were talking about what movie to watch, Well, little Ruthie (shes five by the way) had told the girls that she wasn't allowed to watch that movie. My thought (not proud of it) was "Oh brother Bets" ( thinking about her mom) how bad could it be, really (and still not having the time to find out) and with no second thought TIME went on.
Well, date night came around (Good job to my nephew Tanner for taking state wrestling Champ! That was awesome to see!) Sunday morning came quickly. I was talking to my girl #1 (still thinking of nicknames) she's eight years-old and found out how she REVEIWS the movie. (ok, I'll tell you the name of the movie, "Shreck the third.") I asked her questions and she told me she did have to hide her eyes once. "What for I asked?" When she told me I wished I had stuck with my instincts and MADE THE TIME to find out what was coming into our home and into my sweet little sponges minds BEFORE HAND! Thats what led me to a site I had already subsribed to but wasn't finding what Daisy had told me, it was vague and left me unsatisfied. After searching for a while longer I thought of typing in "Christian Family movie reveiws" and I'm amazed at how this came as truly an answer to my prayers! www.pluggedinonline.com will be visited quite often by us. They even offer book and music reviews!!! I feel blessed to be a Mother of such sweet innocent children. We are a Family with a purpose and we just can't accept issues like this lightly. After reading about how many things I don't approve of in just "Shrek the Third" makes me more in the know but also, to have such good examples like Ruthie, mean a great deal to us! Thank-you Ruthie keep it up, and thank-you to all else who inspire us, we have GOOD TIMES together!

I'm going to do it!

2008-01-12T23:25:00.001-07:00

It's true! Here we are... I'm doing it! I've got a blog! Having a blog has truely been on my list of things "to do" for quite some time! The other morning I was feeling quite overwhelmed from all the " to do's" That I didn't know quite what "to do!" I was telling ME that "I don't have TIME to learn things, that I already need to know them now!" I walked into the pantry looking for my bannana muffin recipe (which reminded me of another "to do" item, organizing my recipes) and here is where I found my little book. Inside I read some quotes that I had written down someTIME ago! So here it is, my new "theme" for 2008!

"Whatever we learn to do, we learn by actually doing it.
People come to be builders, for instance, by building,
and Harp players by playing the harp. In the same way, by
doing just acts, we become to be just. By doing Self-controlled
acts, we come to be self-controlled, and by doing brave acts, we
come to be brave."
~Aristotle

Just start marking those things off your list! This is my start! Maybe in a couple of days I'll figure out how to make it pretty, but for now I'm losing precious sleep TIME!