They Gave Up Their Christmas

I love this video! We had the opportunity to serve in this very vineyard when we lived in Merced. Our ward is assigned a few rows out there. We were only going to be in Merced for a few months but we figured...hey how often do a couple of Idaho country kids get to pick grapes in a vineyard? So Brian and I signed ourselves and Ethan up for a picking. It was a great lesson for Ethan, who had just turned 7. He wasn't exactly excited to spend the day in 115 degree heat in a dusty, sticky, spider crawling vineyard. He asked us what the grapes were for and Brian explained the church welfare system to him. My little 7 year old boy was so touched and humbled by the fact that he could help feed hungry people world wide that he didn't complain again! I have never seen him work so hard! He is a great example to me. If there is a service to render, do it! But do it well! I will forever cherish this place and that incredible experience!

What really goes on when Brian gets kids ready for school on Friday mornings

I got home from school on Friday to find my bed completely dismantled! My blankets and sheets were on the floor and the pillows all- a- muck and scattered every where. I was a little perterbed until Brock pipes up and says "mom, you wanna see why your bed looks like that?" I was interrested so he showed me! Brian took this video that morning while I was gone.

I had to giggle. The kid is doing good. I just wish he had a trampoline to practice on instead of my bed! Good thing I have a king sized bed...I don't think a queen would hold him!

A funtastic weekend!

Tim sporting a beautiful Black and hot pink flowered hair pin. Sadly this is the only picture I got of our weekend!

Friday night we went to dinner with the Bridges, Adams, Dolans and Ramos'. We met at Cuban Pete's on Bloomfield Ave in Montclair and had a wonderful dinner. Tali was here for business again but this time he brought Stacie! It was killer to see her again! It was so great enjoying dinner with everyone! Charity brought Ryan he's 5.5 months old...oh so darn cute! It was a lovely evening!

Saturday morning we had breakfast with Hazel and Hernan and girls. Hazel made incredible whole wheat pancakes, then shared a bottle of her home made apple sauce and apple syrup. OHHHHHH SOOOOOOOO YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMY!!!!!!!!! Then Brian and Hernan took off and brought back some Argentine pasteries. We were so spoiled! I haven't had breakfast like that since camping with Vandergasts last Spring!

After breakfast we made a special dash into Union City to pick Tessa up some pineapple sorbet from Crema's. Our friend Mariano owns it, he was wonderful enough to meet us an hour early so we could make sure we got the beloved sorbet delivered to Tessa and we got back to our house before we left for our next adventure.... Once we got to Tessa's her sweet daughter Mykee asked if her tall friends came (my kids) I told her they were out in the car...she had to go say hi. I love that kid! Unfortunately we couldn't stay!

We sped home to grab REAL IDAHO POTATOES (for the insane North Carolina guy!) for our contribution for dinner and found ourselves going over the river and through the woods to Whiteheads on lake Hopatcong for a Christmas party. They also invited Jacobs and Vandergasts. It was a great time being with them all again! (we don't socialize much since I started school) We have missed all 3 families! The kids were so pleased to be together again. The dad's learned how to put a 15" tv screen into their respective cars, watched some BBC and laughed so hard we thought it was the kids! The mom's had great conversation and got to see what Nikki has been up to! SOOOO cute! We also exchanged book lists. We had such a terrific time! We had to drag the kids out the door!

We got home around 10 and cleaned the house because Tali and Stacie were coming over to see the kids. We sat up talking with them until 2. It was a FUNTASTIC weekend! I can't believe how many good friends we got to be with. It was such a blessing.

What Shall We Give?

This is such a lovely message! I had to share it with you all! Enjoy it.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

YW in Excellence

We based our theme on President Uchtdorf's talk entitled "Your Happily Ever After." My wonderful presidency took a day off and we transformed the overflow into a banquet hall fit for royalty, (at least as close as we could) complete with tapestries, fireplace and mirrors. The girls created a castle for the door so we could enter through castle gates, and they all dressed to the 9's for their banquet. It was such a spiritual night. This last year the girls have worked on Personal Progress and service projects that would be dedicated to this night. We chose to make their celebrated progress for the year the kingdom of which they were crowned queen. For instance if they worked on Family History they were crowned queen of the kingdom of Family History. It was so cozy and fun. We had a great time. I was so pleased with how well it all turned out and the great attitude of the girls. They were so wonderful! It was a spectacular night.

Renne, Juilanna, Joceyln, Eva, Mary, Michelle, Madi, Willow, Maddie, and Melanie we were missing Gabi, Salma, Aaisha, and Jasmine. Aren't they beautiful!

What am I thankful for?

I was so rushed with everything that goes into planning the Thanksgiving meal that I forgot to take a moment to remind myself what I am thankful for...(this isn't in order of least to greatest, its just what comes to mind first)....

I am thankful for this great country and for the family, (past, present and future) friends, and all those who fight to keep it free. I'm thankful for the right to vote and stand up for what I believe in. I'm thankful for the wonderful men who founded this country under God.

Right now, watching another person I've come to love go through cancer, I have to say I am so thankful my family and I have our health. I'm thankful I get to serve my friend and her family every now and again, cause I need those blessings in my life. I am thankful for the endurance all of my family and friends with cancer have, for their desire to fight it and make it. I am thankful for their example and the humility they are teaching me.

I'm thankful I haven't lost a child or husband to death. I'm thankful I get to be the soccer, baseball/softball mom, that I can be there and want to be there for my kids! I'm thankful I get to be the single mom because that means my husband has a good job and works hard at it...which says a lot about him. I am thankful for all the times I have to beg my kids to do their chores because that means they are home and around me. I am thankful for all the times I get to ask my husband for a date, because he always takes me. I am thankful that my kids love each other and know how to laugh and laugh hard together. I'm thankful for all our trips and the places I get to see with my family. I'm thankful for wanting to be a better person so the family can be closer.

I am thankful for music and the peace it brings to my soul. I am thankful there is music for every mood, memory, attitude, and event. I am very thankful for Paul Cardall who is my favorite musician. I'm thankful for piano lessons, clarinet and trumpet lessons. I'm thankful for the music of nature...waves crashing on the shore, birds chirping, the wind wrustling through the trees, cows mooing...all of it! I LOVE BEING ABLE TO HEAR!

I am thankful for my membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am thankful for my testimony of my Father in Heaven. I am thankful to know I am a precious daughter of a loving father who knows exactly what I need each minute of every day and for the tender mercies he slips into each day to show me how much he loves me. I am thankful I get to serve as the Young Women President and meet with 15 of most wonderful girls ever! I am thankful for a loving presidency that support me and keep me going...cause without them I would loose my mind! I am thankful for the true gospel of Jesus Christ and all of its loving details. I am also very thankful for the comforter who supports me every day and lets me remember how worth every heartache and happiness is.

I am thankful for an extended family that branches out forever. I am thankful I know what comes after this life so death isn't scary. I'm thankful for my 17 sisters and 13 brothers. I'm thankful for my wonderful parents who taught me to love God. I'm thankful for a sweet mother-in-law who calls even though I miss most of her calls.

I am thankful to be in school. I love learning! I had forgotten how much I love it! I can't wait to be more useful. I am thankful I can read and write cause that means my eyes work! I'm thankful I can study because that means I do have a mind that belongs to someone who can better themselves.

I am thankful for the Book of Mormon and the peace I feel everytime I read it. I am thankful for the truths that it teaches and the real heros it tells about. I am thankful for the missionaries who teach about it. I am thankful for the priesthood worthy men hold, because that means I can have blessings and still expect miracles in this crazy world.

I am thankful for the temple of God and the chance to be an eternal family. I love being in the temple.

I am so thankful for my grandparents. I miss them so much! I am thankful for the examples of righteousness they have been in my life. I am thankful for their love and support.

I am thankful for friends who listen, love, laugh, argue, tell it how it is, support, cry, and all the other things I forget to do by myself.

There are so many more things to be thankful for...but I have to study. I am thankful to be alive and here doing what I'm doing so I can be "there" eventually!

Thanksgiving Day 2010

Happy Thanksgiving to all the people we love, like, know and even don't know. And in the words of Ethan..."what isn't there to be thankful for?" Enjoy the pictures...we seriously enjoyed the day! LOVE To YOU ALL!

RiLee invited us over for dessert at 6:30pm. It was WONDERFUL! She brought out the Karaokee and the party really got going. HE HEE HEEE!

JoAnn and Ysabel

Hannah

Shandis and RiLee

Miranda and Me

Some of the boys and elders

Elder Thayler and Lambert

Brian and Elder Hoffman

Elder Nelson

Isabella, Hannah and Ysabel

RiLee and Miranda

Sister Little, Christine, Dingus and Brian

Brian, John and Shandis

the sisters Little

The Dingus walking party

Two buddies shaking hands

RiLee, Miranda, Isabella, Ysabel, Hannah, Ethan, Brock

Thanksgiving strep throat...again

My silly kids! We took Ysabel in for strep throat on Monday...by Tuesday all the kids were taking antibiotics. This is what my house looked like on Wednesday! Yeah, they were feeling MUCH better, but dr said we might as well keep them home til after the holiday. It was a fun time for all of us! Except poor dady! He was working until Thursday! And no, we didn't find an ultimate winner on the arm wrestling! They were mostly goofing around!

Brock's 2nd grade VIP program

Every year the second grade does a program for the VIP's in their lives. It is supposed to be someone outside the immediate family, but Brock insisted that I am his favorite person inside and outside the family. I got special permission from my Anatomy and Physiology teacher to miss class so I could attend. My professor, Dr. Kanterman, even bought Brock a smencile and told me to tell him..."any kid who loves his mom enough to get her out of class deserves a smencile." Brock was pretty excited about the gift. It was a wonderful program. We got to spend time interviewing each other about our "likes" which was fun. I completely enjoyed my time with Brock! Brock and Mrs. Hunt

Brock, Nick and Mathew

Me and Brock

My VIP

Singing songs about VIP's

Hannah and Brock win 2nd place in LFAC soccer championship

It was a great season! Coach Anthony Sprague did a wonderful job teaching the kids their plays and positions. The team really worked hard and did a great job working together! It was awesome to see how well the team turned out!

Liberty park with Wingers and Owens

We had a wonderful day at Liberty park with some wonderful old friends and some wonderful new friends! We had a picnic lunch with the Owens and Wingers. It was great to be with Hazel and Hernan for the day and to get to know Adam and Tessa. Hannah and Evan

Evan, Bella and Mikey

Hannah O, Evan, Bella and Mikey

Adam, Brian, Hannah T, Micheala and Hernan

Tessa, Hazel and Sarah

Brian and Ethan feeding a seagull

Brock just chillin

Hazel and Hannah

Brian, Ethan, bird, and Natalie

Hernan, Hazel and girls

Natalie and Hazel

Chowing down on the picnic

feeding the gull's the rest of the picnic

Bella and Micheala

Natalie

My boys

A seagull peed on Brock's head! HA

The Hannah's