Gifts we can Give the Savior this Year...

Be
Gentle
Be Kind
Apologize
Write a Letter
Keep a PROMISE
Give a soft answer
TRY to Understand
Laugh a little MORE
Express your GRATITUDE
Think FIRST of someone else
Seek out a Forgotten Friend
Gladden the HEART of a Child
Examine your Demands on others
Manifest your love in word and deed
Speak your LOVE and then speak it again
Dismiss suspicion and replace it with TRUST
Forego a grudge
Encourage youth
Forgive an enemy
Welcome a stranger


Howard W. Hunter
December 1994

The Best 5 Bucks Spent...

Last night we took the boys to the Spanish Fork Festival of Lights. It was the best 5 bucks I have spent this whole year. James was so excited to see all the lighted characters. If you get a chance, take your kids there. It beats the crowd and price at Thanksgiving Point. If you have little kids, you will love it!

Making our Christmas Merry and Bright

Yes, seeing is believing... This is Matt dressed as Santa Clause, on his way to a family party to be the Santa Clause. A family friend asked Matt if he would do it and to my astonishment he said yes. If you don't know Matt very well this wouldn't be much of a surprise, but we are taking about a man who wouldn't go to the ward party because you "could" wear your pajamas. He never gets into anything silly or pretend, and he really gets "Grinchie" when this time of year rolls around. I was really worried about how this whole thing was going to go. I even made Matt pratice his Ho, Ho, Ho's around the house. But with this experience I discovered something wonderful. There really is magic in Santa Clause. Once Matt put on that suit he became a different person, a happy jolly person. He jingled the bells and raced out the door. When he came home that night he was dripping sweat and beaming from ear to ear. In eight years of marriage I haven't seen Matt this excited and happy. He said it made him feel like a rock star! The little kids just can't wait for their turn to sit on your knee, just to hear what you have to say to them. Matt said it was a rush. Well, it has done wonders for our Christmas holiday. There is a happiness in our home now that we were lacking. I hope it becomes a new tradition. I love you Santa!

The boys were a little confused when they saw Matt go into the bedroom, and Santa come out. They really thought it was Santa until he started talking, and Grant said, Hey thats my dad... We told them that Santa can't be at everywhere all the time, so he has special helpers who dress in his suit and go to family parties for him. "isn't it cool that Dad gets to be Santa special helper." James isn't in the picture because he is screaming in the background. He didn't want anything to do with Santa, even Dad Santa...

I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause...

Money doesn't grow on trees...

I want to know how to teach kids that money doesn't grow on trees...
Yesterday Hunter talked Matt into giving him some money to buy a gift for his brothers at the school store. I of course was against the idea because I think 1st graders are too young to be sent to school with any amount of money.... But I lost the battle and Matt gave Hunter three dollars to buy whatever he wanted. Matt's argument was "he needs some Independence."
So with Hunters Independence... he came home with a silly green bell and said his friend gave it to him. I didn't ask what he bought at the store at that moment because I was on my way to meet with is teacher to plan his Christmas party. While talking to his teacher the office called because a little boy in the class came home with three dollars and the Aunt wanted to know where it came from. The boy said Hunter gave it to him?... Strangely enough I was sitting there at that moment and figured out how the Green bell came into play. The little "friend" traded the green bell (given to him by his one to one teacher), for Hunter's three dollars...
I was really sad for two reasons. First Hunter is the sweetest little boy in the world and It broke my heart that kids are taking advantage of his kindness. This little boy knew exactly what he was doing. And second, I'm sad that I haven't taught Hunter the value of money. It bug's me that Hunter thought it was a good trade, three dollars for a dumb green bell. The only thing that has settled my mind is that this kid comes from a very broken home, and he probably could have used the three dollars, even to just make his day brighter. But from now on our kids will know that Money doesn't grow on trees...

Christmas angels...

Ti's the season for Family, lights, Music, Service and Santa Clause!?!

Matt and I decided it was time for that reminder of what Christmas is really all about. We taught the boys about the Birth of our Savior and what a special gift that was from our Heavenly Father. We reminded them how blessed they are and that there are children all over the world who wont be getting anything for Christmas. Then we challenged the boys a little... We asked them to give up one of the presents that they would be getting this year and give it to someone who is in need. With a poor choice of words we asked them if that is something they would like to do this year.... Hunter with his sweet honesty said "not really, but I will..." It brought tears to my eyes knowing that it was a sacrifice for him, but at age 7, he was willing to make it for someone else. We took the boys to the angel tree at the mall and choose a little boy about their age. The boy asked for a pair of pants, a jacket, a scooter and a basketball. Grant was on top of the list and made sure we had everything he asked for. What a special night for our family. Shopping at the mall with three little boys is always and adventure for sure, but knowing what we were doing brought an amazing feeling and spirit to our Christmas season.

Computer trouble...

When it comes to computers I feel like a silly little monkey... Lucky for us we have a computer genius friend to save the day. Now we are back in business. Thanks Jeff and Janette for all you do for us.

Movie thoughts...

So, I decided I need to read the book again... for me twilight is only fun through the written word. I sat through that 2+ hour movie wondering why I was so interested in the story in the first place. It really seemed to drag, and the more vocal the audience got, the more silly I felt for wanting to be there. I was really disappointed by the language... most of the appeal of the book is the innocent nature of the love story and I think it is a shame that Hollywood need to spice things up with a few "words". What were they thinking...
This was the first time I have gone anywhere by myself in a while, and it was strange the need I had to hold a hand, or search for a little person who wasn't by my side. It was a serious case of Mommy syndrome. Does this ever go away? I guess it means I love my kids.
Thanks Britt for the excuse to do something for myself. It really was much needed and so fun!

Girls day at the movies...

So, I wasn't as excited about this movie as most Twilight fans... I have a very different image of Edward in my mind and I wasn't sure I was ready to distort that image. But when Brittanie called and invited me to go with the girls I was thrilled to have a few hours to myself. Matt is a sweetie. He is going to watch the boys so I can go. Thanks to my honey for loving me and all my silly delights. So I will post my review of the movie later. Happy Girls day...

Why I blog...

Matt has started "Making Fun" of my blogging... he says it is all I do, which is so not true, but it got me thinking about the reasons I blog...

• I love getting reacquainted with old friends and people I don't get to see often. Blogging lets me see your kids, and the great things that you are doing daily. I love all the silly stories and fun things that you are experiencing.
• It gives me a free activity when all the "housework" is done, and the kids are busy playing.
• I have used this as a family/personal history. After each blog post I print a hard copy and put it into a three ring binder. I know that blogs are archived, but at least this way I can say the words "I have a personal history for all to see".
• Most of all I do it for me...

I have read many blog entries from friends and various people. Some feel like a brag session, but others are really inspiring. I hope my entries don't feel like I'm bragging... I am proud of my kids, but I would like the things on my blog to be uplifting. I'm dedicating this blog to the cheerful and uplifting moments in my life. Not only for you, but for me. I think the happier you think, the happier you truly are. So I blog to be Happy...

The Heat of the Pack...

Nothing has taken me back to the good old days like participating in the Fun Run with my son Hunter. It was a silly little 2 mile run, but boy it did wonders for me. We started in a huge pack...(all the kids in the school plus a few parents) and made our way through a course marked off by none other than coach Kelly... It was invigorating. I felt like sprinting the whole way, chasing down every little child in front of me. I held back and ran with Hunter which was almost as thrilling as being first to cross the finish line. I had forgotten how much apart of me running really is. I have given up serious running to spent more time with my family, and enjoying that extra, much needed sleep in the mornings. After this day I have decided to peruse my long time goal of running the St. George marathon. My plan is to train and participate in 2010. But for now I'm going to start slow and run for fun again. I've signed up to run in the Orem turkey trot on thanksgiving day and looking forward to the heat of the pack...

Super easy, Super Yummy Bread Recipe...

Ok, so if you want to look like you have totally slaved in the kitchen all day, and impress your hubby with homemade bread, this is a recipe to try. It looks like you have slaved, but really it is super easy and it only takes an hour, start to finish...

10 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tbs. salt
3 tbs instant yeast
3 tbs lecithin powder- you can buy this at the bosh store, or I have just found it at Macy's
4 2/3 cup hot water

mix all the dry ingredients, than add water and mix for 1 minute.
Check consistency-not too dry, not too sticky.
mix in mixer for 5 minutes without stooping.
shape into loaves and let rise for 25 minutes
bake at 350 for 25 minutes

That's it... Cool huh!

Thanks Janette and Melissa J. for sharing this with me.

A week of Halloween fun...

Monday night for our family night activity we went to the Vinyard Greenhouse "Pumpkin Land". It was really fun to be there with just our little family. We usually do activities like this during the day and Matt usually doesn't go with us so it was extra fun to have Matt there too. Grant was really excited to know that the farmer who grows all the pumpkins is named Farmer Grant. We had to take his photo by the Farmer Grant sign. The boys were really excited about picking a pumpkin to take home. We were going to save them to carve another day, but they just couldn't wait. We didn't finish until almost 10:00 that night, but it was worth it to have that time as a family.

Tuesday night we got out the pony and let the boys ride around in the field. We needed to get old Chief ready for the family party so we let the boys work him into shape. Both Hunter and Grant are regular old cowboys. Hunter really lets Chief know who's boss. I was a proud momma watching my boys handle a horse without any help or fear. (The horse is only three feet tall...) It was still super cute!

Wednesday was our crafting day... We made trick-or-treat bags. The boys glued paper onto bags and then decorated them with stickers and their names. Then we frosted sugar cookies. The boys really liked the mommy cookies the best. Then the boys made this spooky pirate ship. This was Hunters favorite thing because he was going to be a pirate for Halloween, He wanted to take the ship to school with him so everyone could see his it. It's fun for me to have kids who like to create...

Thursday I got to go to Grant's school and watch their little costume parade. Evey one love his costume. He really got the most compliments from all the teachers and even the kids. Grant felt a little uncomfortable with everyone watching him, but I think he had a good time. At recess the teachers said he wanted to take off his costume because he was too sweaty. What a funny kid.

Friday was the big day, and boy was it a big day. In the morning Grant, James and I went to the neighbors house for a little Halloween party. The kids played games and ate cookies. It was so cute. Then we had square pumpkins for lunch.

While James and Grant had a little rest, I went to Hunter's school to do the room mom thing.

This is Brittanie and I as real room mom's. I never thought we would see the day when the two of us would be crafting, playing games and telling stories with our first grader's class. It was a fun/scary moment for me. We are getting so OLD!

After the party we went to the down town trick-or-treating. It was fun for the kids to do a little trick-or-treating in a safe way. Way to go Provo City... The best part was finding this little guy dressed in a sully costume. Both Grant and I were so excited to see this kid. I took this picture, and I think his mom must of thought I was crazy. I had been wishing we would have bought the sully costume years ago when it was in the store, so it really made my day to see one...

It was a crazy busy, super fun, Halloween Week. We are all sugar/costume/partyed out!

I can't wait until next year!

Want to see some BOOBEES...

I couldn't resist this... Thanks Michelle.

Happy Halloween!

My October Funk...

Well I survived Hunting season this year and let me tell you it was the worst one yet.

All the boys were gone hunting, the Knudsen girls were at Disneyland, and I was left home with no money and no one to play with. What a bummer. I was surprised at how down I really got. I was so down that I didn't even join my family at the cabin for a weekend get away, instead I stayed home so I would have one more reason to feel sorry for myself...

Boy, Satin was working on me big time.

Thankfully I was still in tune enough to hear the words "Count Your Many Blessings" over and over in my head, so that it what I did. I made a list of all the many blessings in my life...

* I have three beautiful and healthy little boys who love me as their mother.

* I have a husband who is healthy and able to do everything in life that he desires, including loving me ...

* I live in a beautiful home that my husband built for our family to enjoy.

* Even in this shaky economy our family owned construction business is doing well and making money which is a major blessing for us.

* I live close to all of my extended family and my husbands extended family, and get to enjoy them everyday.

* I get to work with the young women in my ward. They bring me a lot of joy.

* I have a healthy body which allows me to work hard, play hard and enjoy life.

I could go on and on and on because I am truly blessed. I kind of thought this was a little bit silly in the beginning, but It really did shake me out of my October funk. I realized that all the silly fluff of the world really doesn't make you happy. It's being grateful for what you have, and enjoying your family. Gratitude is the greatest attitude.

Mickey Mouse...

Mom, can't you see, I do not like this on my head...

I do not like this on my feet...

I do not like this costume from my head to my feet.

Please don't make me wear this on Halloween...

We may be finding a different costume. But I think James is following after the uncle Clint tradition of hate, hate, Hating to dress up for Halloween.

Oh my FRUSTRATION!!!!

Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Tag, your it...(Thanks Helene)

5 Joys...

* It makes me so happy to live in Utah with the mountains all around.
* I love making something for half the cost of the same store bought item.
* My little family brings me so much joy!
* Sitting in my big bath tub with a good book, and no one to bother me...
* watching my boys make good choices without them knowing I saw.

5 Fears
*I am deathly afraid of water. Matt thinks he can cure this by taking me white water rafting, but really it took everything inside me to get in the boat. All for love right...
* I'm freaked out by the new creepy sounds in the house. I think it's haunted...
* I'm afraid someone will snag one of my boys while I'm not looking. I though this really happened this weekend.
* snakes, snakes, snakes. The boys get so mad at me when I wont take them in the snake house at the zoo.
* I just realized I'm a little bit afraid of the dark. Weird.



5 Surprising Facts...
* My grandpa Phillips is always the first person to come and visit me after I have had a new baby. He just loves to hold the new Born's.
Cute Huh!
* I'm not really allergic to bananas like I have always told everyone, I just hate them enough to be...(big surprise right...)
* When I was 13 my friend Taylor and I decided we were going to date and marry the cool priests in our ward. Lucky for me it really happened.
* My wrist sill hurts from a 4-wheeler accident when I was 16. Push ups just aren't an option



5 Obsessions...
* taking fun, silly, cute pictures of my boys
* Kissing my handsome hubby.
* crafting till my fingers hurt
* watching silly dramas on TV like Grays Anatomy... (what is with all the lezzy stuff?)
* keeping my house sparkling clean... Good luck!



Your it... Tiffany Hillam, Brittanie Lunt, Janette Fischer, Jen Layton, Brooke Phillips

5, Joys, 5 Fears, 5 surprising Facts, 5 obsessions
5, tags.

Fun with the cousins

How crazy are we, taking all these little ones anywhere...

We trucked all the kids to Gardner's Village on Thursday afternoon. We only had a couple of hours because we left late, and we needed to be back in time for the adults to see "Thriller" at the covey center that evening. But a plan's a plan and off we went. The Witch festival is always worth the trip and the kids were thrilled with all there was to see. Any advice on how to get a perfect picture with so many crazy little boys...

Visit from Aunt Jessie & Baby Jensen...

Who would have thought that James would be the Baby Hungry person in the family...

James was thrilled to have aunt Jessie and Jensen visit us last week. James wouldn't take no for an answer when it came to holding his little buddy Jensen. He was so happy to have him right on his lap. Like all children his attention span wasn't long, but it was so fun to watch him bond with his cousin.

The Mystery of Hunter's Missing Glasses...

What Do you think happened to the Glasses?

Finding Joy in the Journey...

Like many of you, I was inspired by this weekends General Conference. So many wonderful lessons were taught. One in particular has stuck with me, and that is Pres. Monson's words on finding Joy in the Journey. I am a stay at home mom with three little boys, and finding joy can sometimes be a real challenge. I struggle with the day to day tasks and the stresses that come with being a mom. After listening to our wise prophet, I began to think about how short this time really is. I hope all mothers out there heed his counsel and take the time to find the joy in what you are doing now. This is a picture of me finding joy in my journey...

THE SEASON OF CREATION...

What is it about the fall the makes women like me want to create something new? This week I have been sewing bags. I am in love with all the new fabulous fabrics that are in the trendy fabric stores. The brands Moda, and Amy Butler just make me go a little crazy. This is a bag I made for my sister Andrea for her birthday. If you get a minute, let me know what you think. Would you buy this bag, and what would you spend?

Monkey See...

Who would have guessed we'd have two boys with glasses...

We got a letter in the mail on Thursday saying Hunter didn't pass the eye exam at school. I didn't worry too much because Hunter has wanted glasses ever since Grant got his. I assumed Hunter failed his eye exam on purpose just so he could be like his brother. Sure enough the Doc. said Hunter is far sighted and has astigmatism, and would benefit from glasses. I was bothered by the word benefit.. why didn't he just say he needs them?

Anyway it was a crazy day trying to juggle three kids at the eye doctor, and then trying to shop for new glasses for both Hunter and Grant. But we made it, and don't the boys look sharp!

Monkey See... Monkey Do...

Our Little Slugger...

Yes we are in a Big Boy Bed... Already... and James couldn't be happier. After months of sleeping on mom and dad's floor we decided to do something to help James sleep better. I was really hesitant about swtiching from the crib to a full sized bed because it means he's not the baby anymore, but james hasn't been the baby for a really long time anyway. He has always wanted to be as big as the other boys. James was thrilled with the bed, especially the awesome baseball bedding. He is a sports kid at heart. We call him our little slugger... Sure enough the little slugger slept through the whole night without a peep. Mom spent the whole night worring that he would fall out of the bed and then stumble down the stairs. His night was better but mine was worse, go figure.

James slept all night in his new big boy bed.

What a Kid...

When the Cat's away...

Tis the season for the Hunting Widows...

so we went mini golfing at Trafalga. It was super fun. Hunter and Grant just loved the glow in the dark under the sea theme, and James was just happy to be included. Brooke, Andrea and Jessica came with us and made it a party.

Happy Birthday Hunter

For Hunter's 7th birthday we celebrated with all the family. Hunter was so excited with the special treasure hunt his Aunt Brooke sent him on. This treasure chest is now filled with all the fun birthday cards and presents from all his grandparents and Aunts and Uncles. Thanks everyone for making his birthday so fun.

My Favorite Things...

Life is to be Enjoyed not just Endured!

This is my favorite thing in the house. It took a lot of convincing to get this tub, but now it is one of Matt's favorite things too.

Helping Hands

We had lost of helping hands on the day we pored the cement for the driveway and side walks. Thanks to all those who have helped us through out this process. We really have appreciated your love and support.

Home Sweet Home

We moved into our Beautiful new home on

July 3rd 2008.

It has been so fun to finally have a place for everything and almost everything in its place. My sweetie Matt did almost all the work himself. I am so amazed at all the handy things that he can do. What a Man!