My Kids 2010

We took advantage of a snow day from church last week to finally get the kids pictures done.  Sometimes impromptu is best!!

By the side of the road...

I think I'm ready to re-enter the blogging world...  Not going to attempt to go through everything I missed blogging about but just wanted to share  a little of the beautiful scenery in Northern California...

(makes you want to go explore, doesn't it?)

Trees! (sigh...)

                ---just by the side of the road.

I want one of these!!!

I love word art.  I have all of these ideas in my head of things that I can make and do, but do not have away to turn them into useable items.  I can make it on the computer, but there they stay.

This is the answer

I want one.

http://theshoppingmama.com/2010/09/crafting-made-easy-with-the-silhouette-craft-cutter-review-giveaway/

please.

On my way.

So - it's finally here.  After months and months of planning and what seems like a million little details, Girls Camp starts today.  I'm feeling very humbled this morning.  During the course of the planning it is sometimes very easy to get caught up in the details.  I've been trying amid the mayhem of this last week to remember the purpose.  Some moments have definitely been better than others. 

So quickly before I go, I have to express my gratitude.  Gratitude to my family who have put up with me, never quite knowing how I am going to react, and with my mind not always connected to what was going on.  And gratitude especially to my Heavenly Father, who again, through numerous ways has shown his love for me.  Reminding me gently that He is in charge and that I need to be a little more trusting and have a little more faith in Him.

I could expound, but it is 5:30am - and I have a half hour to finish getting ready, grab the last details, and get out the door.  And yes - I am doing my hair to go camping - This is girls' camp - where's that fingernail polish?

Thanks.

Warning - Catch up ahead...

Finally posted about some of our happenings...  Several posts follow... :)

Woo Hoo Jarom!

Jarom opening his score for his first AP test - Human Geography

(he actually knew his score 2 days ago  - so I made him fake it)

He got a ...

5!!! (out of 5!)

Way to go Jarom!!!

Evan's Baby Blessing

Megan and Bobby blessed their baby on the 4th of July.  He looked sweet and adorable! 

My favorite part is the smile on my sister's face!!

Aren't they a cute family?

Evan's Grandparents - do they look adoring or what?

Manti Pageant

A few weeks ago we loaded the kids up and made the drive to Manti to see the Manti Pageant. I haven't been since I was a college student which was a REALLY long time ago. It was fun to take the kids. I was so impressed with the youth that were in the cast. They spent the time before the pageant started walking through the crowd talking with everyone, sharing their testimonies and encouraging contacts. They were so full of life and happy. You could see the spirit shining in them!

The show was magnificent and the evening was beautiful (if a little chilly). We are so blessed to have so many wonderful opportunities within driving distance! Though I have to admit the drive home was very long!! (did I mention that I am getting older - 2 am driving is a lit harder than it was when I was in college!)

This is of course one of my favorite scenes.
The story of Christ blessing the children touches my heart each time I read or hear it.
It was an amazing experience and I am so happy to have shared it with my family!

Baby Evan

This beautiful little guy joined our family on May 31st.

He is the son of my sister and her husband.

I was lucky enough to be able to see him just after coming home from the hospital.

So Sweet!

I love the picture all curled up in a ball - and of course the toes!

Welcome little guy!

Memorial Day

It has become a tradition since my Dad died to visit the Brigham City Cemetery on Memorial Day.

I love that it provides a connection for my kids to their grandfather even though that never knew him.

We also have the chance to visit the grave sites of their great grandparents and several other family members.

I also love that they take it so personally.  That is doesn't just seem something to me - it means something to them.

Of Course - no visit would be complete without the obligatory wade in the canal!

Talent Show

The YM/YW had a talent show back in May. I was so impressed with my boys who worked together to do their own arrangement of "Fireflies" It was fun to hear them practicing and working together and I am amazed at them that they were so willing to share their talents! Jarom also performed a song that he had written himself. Wow! He also performed it at his school's guitar concert and did a solo in his school's choir performance. I am so grateful that they are not afraid to participate and share their talents! They both are way more daring than I ever was -thank goodness for that!
Love you both!

Disney Dance!

Kayleen's dance recital this year had a Disney theme. She danced to "Life is a Highway" from Cars and to "Baby Mine" from Dumbo

(the obligatory tongue!)

The show was complete with an Electric Light Parade for the finale! It was awesome!!

Kayleen loves the flowers that she receives afterwards. It's a little sad that she will not be doing dance next year. We have decided to consolidate activities and pick one to concentrate on. She choose the flute. But I am glad for the 4 years of Dance that she has had and for her wonderful teachers!

It's time

I've taken a little hiatus from...  well just about everything.

The end of the school year was just about as crazy as anything.  My mind was on super overload.

School has now been out for 2 weeks and nothing has been posted.

I've read.  Spent time with my family.  Thought about my summer projects. Worked on some things for girls camp.  Walked.  Hmm..  That's it.

Tomorrow we are taking the kids to Manti and hoping to maybe stop somewhere along the way (any ideas?) and I am charging the battery in my camera. 

It's time to be creative.

hopefully soon.

Another favorite

Isn't she adorable?  For Mother's day I got to sit in church and just hold this beautiful baby.  Totally worked for me.

Baby on Baby

I took this picture of my sister on Mother's Day.  She's nearing her due date and her holding our little niece with her hubby in the background was just so close to what their life will be in just a few days!  Plus the baby on the baby is just classic!

Favorite Football Pics

Finally remembered to bring the camera to Spencer's flag football game. The lighting was great and I got some fun pictures.

So...  without further verbage I give you Spencer - blocking, running, and of course - grabbing flags!

10!!!

Happy Happy Birthday Kayleen Dear

Happy Days will come to you all year

If I had a wish that wish would be...

That my baby would just stop it all ready!!

10? Really? How did that happen?

And how come everytime I look at her she looks even more grown up than the last time?



{sigh}  Happy Birthday to my beautiful baby turned beautiful girl.  Love you!

Dadsense

For those of you that enjoyed the "Mom Song" sung to the William Tell Overture ( if you haven't heard it watch it on you tube!!!)  Anita brings you Dad sense!

And if you need another reason to laugh, find and watch her Don't Breathe video!

In a rut.

I know myself (I think), but often don't like to actually acknowledge my own weaknesses.  I can' seem to shake the mood I've been in where I don't want to do anything.  You know, you do enough to keep up, barely, but just look around and see a thousand things you could do and don't do anything!  Cleaning, mending, projects, yard, organizing,  - nope not motivated to any of it. 

One of my very favorite talks is Pres. Uchtdorf's talk to women  found here LDS.org - Ensign Article - Happiness, Your Heritage.  For my birthday, my kids got me the most thoughtful gifts.  Spencer's was a copy of Pres. Uchtdorf's book that is based on that book.

But here's the catch.  I've been avoiding reading it.  I know that his thoughts are the key to getting out of my rut, but by avoiding it than I don't have to acknowledge it, right??  Lately I just can't get myself to do anything!!  I want to take pictures, but just don't, I want to do some editing but nothing seems exciting.  I think maybe I'll do some word art, but what for?  Ultimately I guess it comes down to a combination of two things.  One just plain old blahs, and two just not feeling like what I do is good enough.  I look around and see the amazing things that other people are doing and just feel like I don't have the knowledge to do the same things.  Yet, I know that finding a way to be creative and use my strengths is the key to getting out of the rut!!  So I'm taking the first step.  Admitting my weakness.  Hopefully this will be the motivation to do something and not just be overwhelmed by everything that I don't do as well as others.  Second step...  I need to choose something to actually do.  And I want it to not just be a project, but actually something useful - either to myself or to someone else... hmmm...

Umm... Thanks?!

So I challenged my family to have a question in mind as they listened to conference.  Mine was about how to be a better parent to my teen, preteen family. 

So thanks Heavenly Father, but really, the whole conference didn't have to be for me.

My Sis

I stole my sister Megan for an impromptu photo shoot.  Isn't she adorable??

I love seeing her so happy and excited!!