Obedience

Two weeks ago at church I was reminded of an experience that I had on my mission that I would like to share.  During the years of 1992-1994 I served a Spanish speaking mission in the San Bernardino, CA mission.  At that time, we were allowed to listen to church music on cassette tapes.  Before I left on my mission, I purchased a cool yellow am/fm cassette player.  I decided that I would turn the knob (yes we had knobs and not digital) all the way to the end on am so that just in case the radio came on that I would not hear regular music.  I wanted to follow the rules and be a good missionary.  Well, I came to find out that not all the missionaries felt the same way and word got back to the mission president that some were listening to music that was not approved. We were instructed to send home any electronic that had a radio on it. 

Needless to say, I was a little angry and did not think it was fair that I was being punished because others were not doing what was right.  Several of my not so good qualities probably came out around that time however, I learned a valuable lesson.  I decided that all the little rules that they gave to missionaries was basically to just teach us obedience to those little rules so that when the big ones came around it would be easy to choose the right.

Back to church two weeks ago.  Our sweet bishop stood and said that it had come to his attention that several of the youth were texting, and playing games on their phones, ipods, etc. during church and class.  He said that there were to be no more electronic devices brought to church and that the parents needed to support this decision. 

I will not lie, I was SO sad because I have all the manuals, scriptures, music everything on my iPhone so that I do not have to carry around tons of material and I love my iPhone.  Because of the experience that I had on my mission, I was able to be humble and go straight home after sacrament meeting to get my paper scriptures. 

Fast forward to yesterday.  It was clarified that the rule was mainly for the youth and not so much for the parents, so I get to use my phone after all for scriptures at church. 

How grateful I am for the gospel to constantly teach us humility and for my testimony of obedience.

Christmas Gift

Our bathroom is always a struggle for us.  We will have the battle of our wits to see who will get tired (or grossed out) of the dirt first to see who will give in and clean the bathroom first.  I always give in when stuff (I say stuff because I don't think it is identifiable) starts growing in the toilet.  I have always wondered if he has some kind of secret satisfaction in this "Game" we play. well.......

This year for Christmas, Troy gave me a wonderful gift.  It is that he is going to start cleaning the bathroom for me this year. The bucket he picked out along with the cleaners.  He said that if he was going to clean, he didn't want to use any of my sissy cleaners. 

Yesterday he cleaned the bathroom and I can not put into words the beautiful "Hallmark moment" that it was.  Seeing Troy in the bath tub scrubbing and cleaning.... along with a lot of sweat and several words of moans and groans, brought a joyous smile to my face. Oh and he found out that one of my secret cleaners was not that sissy after all, Ammonia, which he added to his green bucket.

Thank you Troy for a wonderful Christmas gift that WILL last all year long!

Family Christmas Party 2011

This year Troy though it would be a good idea to have our family Christmas party at our church.  It was a fabulous idea and gave the kids a place to run around in the gym and the use of the kitchen.  It was great!

Rena wanted to have Mathew's favorite tradition "The turduckin" It was so yummy and I thought of Matt and how much he always loved to cook things like this and relish in good food.

The little cousins loved going under the table and playing pick-a-boo with those of us eating.

After dinner, we had all the kids make Christmas ornaments for the tree that we had at the party.  I brought my big tub of craft things and the kids had a blast being creative and that they were!

Grandpa "Eric" and "Marie Fairy Godmother"

 (We are so happy that they came and love them so much)

Wendy collects pictures for each season and has a box for each occasion.  It is so fun to look through them each year and see how the kids have grown.  Alan and Willa were enjoying looking through them and reminiscing. (some are really old)

The smaller of the grand children (excluding Tyler, Chandler & Brieanna) performed some really cute Christmas carols.

Kynleigh opening her tea party set and a coloring book!

Kynleigh, Tristen, Gracelyn and Kendra playing with trucks and princes characters, so much fun!

Grandpa Eric and Emma.....So Silly!

Brieanna and Grandpa Doman

Chandler, Tyler and Brian sporting their new scarves made by Willa

(What a handsome group of guys)

Funny Story: Wendy was trying so hard and might I say so many times to take a picture of Troy (see picture to right) Every time she would take her picture, Troy would snap a picture with my camera and cause a flash.  Each time, Wendy would look at her camera and get this puzzled look on her face wondering why her camera was not working. Finally I took the camera away from him and she got her picture.  (Kids!!!)

Brieanna, sporting her new headband, necklace, scarf, socks and whatever else, she had a great time at the party.

All the BIG GIRLS!!!

All the BOYS with their new scarves, and socks!

Halloween 2011

We had a fun Halloween.  Kynleigh was so excited to go and get candy and say "Trick or Treat". Brieanna was a "Princess" and wore a beautiful ball gown  and went trick or treating with her friends.  Tyler hung out at  Carson's house and Troy and I passed out bags of chips.  We had around 200 bats, princesses, goblins, and who knows what else come by our house.

Family Party

Birthday boy blowing out candles! Happy Birthday Brian!!!

It has been a long time since we have had everyone up to our house for dinner so Troy planned a ham dinner today for everyone.  It was a lot of fun to see everyone (we missed Trent & Becky and Rena & kids and Eric).  We heard the story about Brian’s basketball injury,(hee, hee, hee) ate lots of ham, salad, deviled eggs, potato salad, dip and chips and cake to top it all off. Yesterday was Brian's birthday and we heard through a little bunny that he liked carrot cake. Thanks to Costco, we had a very yummy cakd in honor of Brian. 

With just Travis and Kendra left, everyone tried to hit everyone else as hard as they could with these soft balls I have.  Oh such good times, only two thoughts; 1- I wish we could get together more often, if nothing else but for the kids to play and get to know each other better and 2- I definitely missed Matt.  He had a way of always bringing any gathering to life.

This is a ball thrown by Tyler that went right past Kendra and hit Brie smack in the face.

Travis and Troy hanging out

Kynleigh and Kendra finally started playing and running around together

Kynleigh eating ice cream, oh so good!

Grandpa and Willa

Emma and Troy

St Patricks Day

 St. Patricks Day is not necessarily the funnest holiday for me, really all I have ever done is wear green to keep from being pinched non stop. Having a daycare has changed that somewhat. Last year, I put a little drop of food coloring in the toilet and announced to the kids that a Leprechaun had peed in Mrs Caryn's toilet.  They all went crazy and spent the next 2 hours looking for this Leprechaun all over my house.  This is all I heard from this one little guy all year who is now in kindergarten so of course we had to do it again this year. Yes, we found some green in the toilet and I had magnifying glasses for all of them to use to "hunt" for this poor little Leprechaun (who by the way, heaven help him if this bunch ever did catch him) Needless to say, they never found him, however we did find some little footprints in the hall leading to the kitchen..... so until next year, this little Leprechaun is safe once again.

Yard Work

It never fails, every fall when it is time to do all the fall clean up in the yard, between soccer and I think the attitude of "do I really have to do more yard work" only a part of the yard gets ready for spring to come the next year.  This last year was no exception and then all the parts of the yard that were left undone are just ugly and dried up and brown and did I say ugly. I can only take so much of seeing all the ugly. Spring is so sporadic with a few nice days laced in between a lot of cold wet days. (unlike where my dad is and he is getting suntanned on his deck every week) This last Friday however I did not plan on doing yard work, but as my daycare kids were leaving I noticed how nice it was out and thought I better take advantage of this.  I announced to a kitchen full of teen agers that I was heading outside and if anyone wanted to help me. I have never seen a kitchen clear out with excuses so fast in my life. So it was left up to me and Kynleigh (she can't really leave the house ..... yet) I enjoyed my self so much and what a difference it makes to be OUTSIDE after a long winter for ones spirit. Now let me clarify something now.... I say that I love to be outside now, it is in the 50's. I may not be quite so enthusiastic in a few months when the weeds won't stop and it is in the 100's and I have to work in the heat, so ..... everyone...... enjoy this positive attitude now from me.