Sunday, May 31, 2015

Santa's Workshop

 We asked the kids to come up with their own money to buy each others Christmas gifts this year. 
With Big Sis being so young we had to get creative on ways for her to earn her own money. 
It was important to us that they got the money from outside the home and that they worked hard.  We decided to do a Santa's Workshops where parents could drop off kids and go shopping. 
I took this picture of Big Sis in the Santa hat, then we made flyers and took them to neighborhood friends.  We had fun cutting, painting and putting together our workshop.  On the day of our big event the kids all got a picture in Santa's sleigh when they first arrived. 
They got to enjoy some hot chocolate and snowballs (donut holes)  We did a couple of different crafts, played some games and decorated Christmas shaped cookies. Finally, Santa came and made his appearance.  The kids were so excited and adorable. Each child got their own photo with Santa.  I'm happy to report Big Sis was able to earn enough money and was very sweet and thoughtful with each gift she made.  I sure do love my little Santa's helper.   

Happy Birthday

 I just love this picture of my Ry. 
This photo was taken on his birthday which happened to be Thanksgiving too this year. 
The weather was gorgeous and we loved eating our big meal outside.  It has become our new favorite Az Thanksgiving tradition.  It's fitting that he was a Thanksgiving baby.  I am so very thankful for the amazing man he is.  He is my peace and security.  My strength and inspiration.  He makes me laugh every.single.day.  He is such a good judge of character and has helped me see things as they truly are.  He takes me out on a date every single week and works so hard for our family.  I think my very favorite thing is how much he loves the kids and I.  I love these pictures below of him reading to his baby girl on his birthday after dinner.  He has always been such a kind and gentle father and our kids adore him, as do I.  Happy Happy Birthday my love!




Sunday, May 24, 2015

FHE halloween lesson and missionary work.

Ry took the Monday before Halloween off so we could have some families over for and FHE pumpkin carving night. I did a little lesson on how Our Heavenly Father lifts us up, takes us in, washes all the dirt off. He opens us up, touches us deep inside and scoops all the yucky stuff out (like the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc.) Then He carves us a new smile and puts His light inside of us to shine for all the world to see.

We can let our light shine by being a good example. When we keep the commandments we are showing others our love for Heavenly Father.  Each family was given a candle for their pumpkin to take home and let the light shine forth.   We invited Haynies, Carpenters, Crocketts, Moshiers, Farnsworths and Bellons over. It was a fun and special night with a special little spirit.  Oh how I love and pray for my dear friends, both members and non/less active members.  Each one is just so dear to my heart and bless my life daily. 

Halloween 2014

I just LOVE Halloween. 
This year did not disappoint. 
 We loved going to the school costume parade. 
Big Sis was a (modest) mermaid for the school party. 
 Little Sis loved her cute little strawberry shortcake bucket. 
 This was on the way to the ward Carnival. 
Big Sis was strawberry shortcake and Lil Sis was her strawberry. 
They were darling!!!!
 On Halloween Carpenters invited us over for dinner before Trick or Treating. 
After dinner we all met up with Haynies, Bellons and Carpenters and went through the neighborhood. 
We had such a blast and the kids had candy coming out their ears. 

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Dreams do come true

After much support, encouragement and brainstorming from my sweetheart and Mom/sisters I started my own preschool.  It has been a dream come true.  I'm not going to post much more about it here as I have it all documented on the preschool blog, but wanted it in the family blog just for documentation. 
Christy send me a darling congratulations package that arrived on the first day. 
Don't know how she always does that, but it sure made my day. 
I started with 5 little students and ended with 8.  
 

Bald and Beautiful

I always sit on the stairs and do Big Sisters hair in the morning before school. 
This morning Little Sister decided she was going to help daddy get ready for the day. 
Oh how I love to watch these two together. 
He is definitely wrapped around her tiny little finger. 

Ouch!

The second day of school the youth had a combined ym/yw activity.  They had a giant slip and slide.  J-man and his buddy collided and he broke his arm. 
8-7-2014

First Day of School

Ry gave the kids their back to school Fathers Blessing.  Then the next day it was off to school. 
We have an 8th, 7th and 2nd grader.  Mom got a blessing too as she was beginning her new preschool class.  What a wonderful man Ry is.  I some how did not get a picture of Ky on the first day???  We of course had our traditional first day of school cookies after school as they each told me about the days excitement. 
8-6-2014 

Summer Vacation 2014

We were very excited to load up and hit the road to Utah for our family reunion. 
I packed fun little packages of games and activities to do along the way. 
Uncle Ryan put together and planned our family reunion this summer. 
He did a great job and everything was so well thought out. 
 Aunt Christy ran a cute little post office. 
Each family decorated their own mailbox to keep at their campsite. 
There were craft supplies set up for everyone to write letters to each other every day through out the reunion. 
It was such a cute idea.   
Big Sis got to be one of the mail carriers. 
Don't you just love the mail truck?!?!  She sure did.   
We all had fun taking the different four wheelers for a spin. 
Lil Sis wasn't so sure at first, but eventually learned to love them. 
We had all kinds of different pioneer/family history activities and games. 
Grandma helped all of the little girls make a pioneer pillow doll. 
Little Sis still plays with her little dollie, she loves it. 
  Grandpa did the tin lanterns, they were awesome
and took some time to do I'm sure.   
There was fishing, canoe rides and lots of being cute and silly together. 
Each family was assigned a meal. 
They were all wonderful
Little Sis feeding daddy some of her eggs. 
Our trailer made the perfect spot for the girl cousins to play "house" in. 
Bonding time with Grandma. 
Grandma doing a great job keeping little Sis hydrated. 
Our little village had a jail. 
My boys and Mitchell had a blast getting to capture some of the girl cousins and put them in jail. 
I got a good chuckle every time I saw them hauling one of the girls off to jail. 
There was also a pretty intense paintball game which was a favorite of ALL of my boys.  :)
Little Sis loved exploring and her new found freedom up in the mountains. 
Family time around the bon fire has always been my favorite part of camping. 
I loved the talent show that the kids put on. 
What amazing talent our family has!
A few fun random shots. 
As we were leaving the campsite Lar and Ryan got in a huge water fight. 
haha
Fun times!!!
 After a few days camping we headed into town and Grandma took us on an awesome family History tour.  So neat to see the actual home of our ancestors and get to go inside.  Grandma tells the best stories and boy does she know her facts.  {She finished her book and it is amazing!!!}.
 After a small little hike up to the historical family markers we enjoyed a family picnic. 
Grandma had packed our lunches in metal pails just like the pioneers with a cute little cloth and all.  It was adorable.  After eating we enjoyed a few games of volleyball.  Kids vs. parents is always a fun one.  Of course the parents killed it!  BAM!
 On our way home our Durango broke down.  Kendall called around and worked out a way to haul it back to St. George which saved us hundreds of dollars not having to have it towed that far.  Between Kendalls friend with a trailer, Gregg with the truck to pull the durango and Clements car to haul us and the trailer we were able to get to st. George.  We ended up having to stay for over a week but finally got the new engine that was needed and headed back home.  What a stressful, fun, memorable vacation. 

Let Freedom Ring

We decided to go float down the river this year for on the 4th of July. 
Haynies brought us some donuts and offered to keep the baby so we could float in piece. 
It was a lot of fun.  When we got done the men grilled some sausages and hotdogs and we had a fun little picnic. 
Big sis had some friends over and we did some patriotic crafts. 
Later we went to Haynies for dinner and the guys put on an awesome Firework show. 

Daddys girl

True loved is feeding daddy some of your icecream!

pizza prank

Ry and I were at Costco before date night so we grabbed the kids a pizza. 
We decided to hide all put one piece and give it to the kids. 
They were shocked but got a good laugh out of it....adventually.  :)

Big girl bed

Getting a new bed is apparently a family ordeal. 
Love how the boys helped carry it up to her room,
Big sister and daddy put the sheets on. 
Now the fun....learning to stay in bed.  :)
6/25/2014