Birthday Celebrations

In the last three years I have learned that Craig's family loves to celebrate birthdays. So we like to get to get together and celebrate. Last night they came over for dinner, cake, ice cream and presents. We celebrated Joy and Samantha's birthdays. We only had enough candles to light one set, so Joy stood by and let Samantha blow them out.

Aunt Joy loves her name. So of course we indulged her (and will eventually drive her co-workers crazy) by giving her items that say her name to put on her desk. Also we did include Shea butter foot lotion and toe nail polish.

Samantha recieved many fun pens to add to her collection.

Talented Children

Raeleigh and Jordan both had art work entered in the county fair. Here are their projects. Jordan was awarded a blue ribbon.

Valentine's

For our family Valentine's is a family occasion. We have a family dinner. The kids look forward to this. We have a table cloth covered in hearts, toped with heart shaped plates that each have a valentine message on them and well as cups. On each plate we put a present for the kids. The table is then sprinkled with converstion hearts. I think that Craig is still adjusting to this meal, with candy on the table.This year I went overboard and also put a bag of candy at each plate.

This our festive dinner was on Sunday. A day late, because of the youth temple trip and the visit to the Holy Land Experience.

Here is what our table looked like. While Craig and I set the table and prepare the meal, the kids go to their rooms, so that they are suprized when they come to dinner. The menu is always simple. This year, we had corn dogs or hot pockets, tator tots and broccoli with milk or water.

The kids presents are small but fun. Most of the presents this year had been in my closet since summer. Craig and I bought them in various places on our drive home from Utah. So it was nice not have to buy them right after chirstmas. Of course, that may be the reason I went overboard on Candy. This is Raeleigh holding up her new shirt. Stuart got flip flops, his feet have grown since I bought them and they barely fit!Jordan was so excited about his fantasy encyclopedia book that he didn't want to eat.

Samantha presents added two pens to her collection. Her favorite was the pointer pen that expands to 25 inches. She wants to bring this to school. I don't think that is a good idea:( I love this picture of Morgan. She is wearing the headband she got. The headband has beaded flowers on it. The flowers are in the YW value colors. I did not take a clear picture of Patrick, sorry about the blur. He was not thrilled that we woke him up from a nap. So when asked what he thought about his new football cup, he answered with a grunt!

After our dinner party, the kids were wild. Running around and being loud - ear marks of having a good time with each other. During all of this, Samantha backed me into a corner. She was suprised when I poured the little bit of water I had on her head!

Raeleigh and I played a game of go fish with heart shaped cards. The other kids laid down on the floor and played Slap and Craig took pictures of all the action.

The Holy Land Experience

Saturday a group of us went to the Holy Land Experience. It was a great day. We spent time with friends and enjoyed the day. The Holy Land Experience is a theme park set in Jersuleam set in the time of Christ. There are show that depict how life would have been then. Shows that depict bible stories. There is also a reactment of the crucifixion. We also attended a christian music concert there, but I can not remember the name of the group.

Patrick by a centurion statue.

Below, father and son!

The part has many statues of angels. This is Morgan and her friend, posing with their "Seminary Angel"!

I love tulips and to take pictures of flowers, so I took these shots in the park.

Youth Temple Trip

The youth got up bright and early on Valentine's Day. We had a seven am temple session. So that meant leaving by 4:15am. Although everyone was tired (especially the girls that spent the night - not sleeping- at the Lamb's). It was a great way to start off our weekend. The spirit was amazingly strong. We did all family names, thanks to those who sent names for the youth to do. I am greatful to work with the youth. Their testimonies and desire to follow the Lord bless my life.

Directing Music

So any of you have the problem of only a few of the youth in your ward knowing how to direct music? Well we do. So when the Mia Maids were in charge of the YM/YW combined activity - Morgan decided to teach how the lead music. The batons were colored straws with pink marshmellows on the end. The kids had a good time and learned something. Or so we thought until the next week when we asked someone to lead the music and the answer was "I forgot". Good Effort anyway Morgan!

Sculpting Ice Cream

I am grateful for good internet sites that give me ideas to help with my calling. Sugardoodle.net is great.

From there I got the idea to talk with the YW about how we are clay in God's hands and that he would like tomake us his masterpiece. We talked about the things we need to "sculpt out of our lives". The girls came up with these answers: profanity, immodesty, negative thoughts, taking the Lord's name in vain, etc. Then we discussed what sculpting tools the Lord has given us. Those answers were: prayer, the Holy Ghost, personal progress, parents and youth leaders, friends that set good examples, etc. The girls had great insight with this brief lesson.

For the activity part, the girls grouped into teams of two. They went into the kitchen and sculpted a half gallon of ice cream. There were tools to use and and candies to decorate.















Above, Samantha and Jaycee showing off their creation and licking the drips. Morgn is a ice cream that she shaved off! All of the girls had a great time and I hope that this will help them to remember the tools the Lord has given us to scupt our lives to be one of his masterpieces.

Are you suprized that we had ice cream cones for dessert! The girls scooped their melting sculptures into cones.

When I have something to do, Craig helps.

As many of you know this year I have been a girl scout leader for Raeleigh's troop. It is a lot of work and am glad to have help of the other leaders. However we also like to have guest speakers. So when we decided to earn a badge about eating healthy, Craig was the perfect choice for a speaker. So he came in and talked to the girls about working in the school cafe, reading food labels, the food pyramid. He also had them do some fun coloring and gluing activities about healthy eating.

Thanks Craig for your help and support!!!

Morgan School Projects

When does Morgan not have a project going. This one used the sewing machine and parental help. Morgan and her friend had a school project, that they had to make costumes for. So thank heavens for her friends mom Morgan and friend were able to come up with the patterns for the costumes. Craig took them shopping to buy needed supplies. Then at their own homes, they finished up the sewing. So here is Morgan in her mid evil dress the day of her presentation.

Way to go Samantha and Team!

Samantha ran on her schools track team. There was one meet. The four middle schools in our districk competed. Samantha did well. She placed second with her team mates in both the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. This picture I got in trouble for. I snapped it to soon, because Samantha passed both these girls and won he section of the relay. Samantha is the one in maroon shirt.

Patrick advances in the aaronic priesthood

Patrick was ordained a priest. It is amazing how a parents heart swells when their child does something good. Raeleigh has already asked Patrick to baptize her. So that will be happening in April.

Some of those who stood in the circle. Jared, Bishop Smith, Craig and Grandpap.

Visiting Teaching

A few weeks ago, I learned about a different side of visiting teaching. I got a new list in January. I was excited to find out that my 80 year old friend Betty was on my VT list. I knew Betty had cancer.

A couple of years ago when I was the ward choir director, I met Betty. She would come and sing with us. I was of course frazzled because Craig was in meetings and our kids were running around the church. I felt very pulled as to where my attentions need to be, with the choir or my children. I think Betty knew that. After each practice, Betty told me how well I was doing. She made positive remarks about my children and would tell me she loved me.

Our ward boundaries were changed and my family was now in a different ward than Betty. Then last July the boundaries were changed again. So I was back in Betty's ward. Betty was a bright face and friend in my transition to being in different ward. Every week she came up to me, hugged me and told me she loved me. By the end of the year we weren't seeing her at church so much. I missed her hugs.

When I went to visit her in January, my heartached. She was lying in bed, in pain with no hair and not responding to anything. I sat and talked to her. Told her about all my kids and what was happening in my life. I also met Betty's daughters that had come to care for her. I went over often for the next, little over a week. One time I sat on the bed next to Betty, she had her eyes opened. I told her that I loved her. She also told me that she loved me. That was the last time she spoke to me. Another time there I went over and shared with her my memories of her friendship.

Betty has now passed on. I was grateful to lead the congreational hymns at her funeral, a good way to serve her. I helped Betty's daughters clean her house after she passed.

I always knew that visiting teaching was more than just seeing a sister once a month. However this is the first time that visiting teaching has meant helping a family with a loved one that is passing on. This was definetly and challenge, but the Lord helped me. I am grateful to have been Betty's friend and her visiting teacher. Betty brought much sunshine into my life. I look forward to seeing Betty again.

Raeleigh's Valentine's

Raeleigh's teacher had her students writed something nice about each classmate. The students gave them to each other at their valentine party. Here are what Raeleigh's friends said about her! She is:
SMART
HILLARIOUS
A SMART KID
COOL
NICE
FUNNY
PRETTY
A GOOD SINGER
CUTE
GOOD
SHE HAD POPCORN
HAS NICE HAIR
I KNEW HER SINCE FIRST GRADE
I LIKE YOU

Raeleigh was pleased with the comments the other students gave her. I think this is a great way to build friendships in the classroom.