No Training Wheels

Look who has no training wheels anymore! The other day I asked Hattie if she wanted me to take them off and she did. I think it took me one time running behind her in the street and she didn't look back! She keep saying, "I am a big girl now!" And don't you just love her outfit!?

Sisters

Just had to capture these moments...

Touching

If you want a good cry and to hear something very touching, listen to this: Conversation with Gary Ceran. I was doing pretty good until he talked about what he said in the courtroom. It reminded me of a video about a similar story that was equally as sad.

A Christ-Centered Christmas

My mom shared a book with me a couple of weeks ago and I loved it so much, I am doing it with my family. It's called A Christ-Centered Christmas and there are seven "lessons" that teach your family about seven figures from the nativity and as you talk about each one, you add that figure to a nativity scene in your home. We started tonight but had to do two in order to be done by the Monday before Christmas. There is a song to go with each one, scriptures to read, questions to ask and ponder, stories, activity ideas, etc. It's a really good book--I loved it and I'm looking forward to doing it with my family.

Shopping and Project

Last Friday and Saturday I've got to have a little fun. Not that everyday isn't fun, but a while back my mom and I signed up to take a class together. It happened to be on her birthday, so we thought it would be a fun way to celebrate. My aunt Deb who works for Seven Gypsies and another lady, Paula, who works for them, too, put together this class. It is the cutest, most amazing advent board you've ever seen. This is what my finished product will be.

I think I got 17 of the tags done that day, so I don't have too many left to finish, then I can assemble the board.

But backing up...on Friday, several of the ladies who took the class all met up for a day of shopping and fun. My mom and I drove with two other ladies we didn't know before but who turned out to be super nice and fun. We went to Rust & Roses and Melrose Vintage.



We had a delicious lunch and lots of visiting at Postino. From there, we trekked out to Mesa to go to Found and Domestic Bliss. I totally found the couch and chairs I want for my front room.


Cute, huh?! Too bad, we could trade Brian's car in and still come up short! Ha ha. It's fun to dream though.

We stopped at Mystic Paper. From there, we took off to head home but not before stopping at a boutique in Chandler. I found some handmade soaps and really cute headbands.

The next morning, we were up and at 'em and at Deb's house by 9 AM. They seriously went over the top for this class. The presentation for the supplies was so cute none of us wanted to use anything and ruin it! Everything was wrapped up so cute and thoughtfully.


We did get to work though and worked our tails off until about 6:15. Some stayed later, but I had to get back for a wedding reception. We did stop for a lunch that my uncle Skip made. Delicious! Paula did make the salad which was incredible, too.



Overall, it was a day of fun, work and creativity.

(Doesn't it look like we worked hard?!)
It was really, really fun to do something creative again--it's been WAY too long and made me realize just how much I miss it. Now I've got to get cracking to finish the rest of the project. Thanks, Mom, for having a birthday so we could celebrate!

Farm Field Trip

Last Monday, Ellie had a field trip with her preschool. Brian's mom watched Ruby so I got to take Ellie and Hattie. The weather was so perfect and nice. They got to "pick" vegetables, see some animals, learn about corn and walk through the corn field, play and eat.



They totally posed like that without any coaching.
These pedalcarts were SO fun. It was probably the most fun part of the day. I want to by them for around the neighborhood!

Halloween

Last night was our ward trunk-or-treat. To start...costumes! (please ignore all the lighting variations--I don't have any editing software on this computer yet.)

First off--Ruby...she was our basketball player. Eliza wore this costume for her first Halloween and one other girl wore it, but I can't remember who. At the last minute, Brian put together a costume as a "church basketball player" so they were kind of teammates. It was really cute actually to have them match.




Next is Hattie! A couple weeks ago, she decided on her costume--Rapunzel. She got a cute dress-up dress and instead of paying $20 for the Rapunzel wig, I decided to make one with yarn. I think it turned out pretty cute.




Ellie went as a 50's girl or if you ask her "a plootle (poodle) skirt girl." It was funny. Brian and I found this costume at Marshalls one date night. We couldn't resist it and the glasses just made it complete. She wore it well!



Libby was going to be a butterfly and had the cutest blue wings to match, but in her true manner, she ditched the wings the night of and just wore the rest of the outfit. She did put the wings on for her picture though.



Finally presenting Eliza as our iPod! This costume was fun to make and seemed to be a hit. Everyone thought it was pretty creative and fun.





I was a party pooper and didn't dress up. Eliza wanted me to wear a witch hat, but I told her I didn't need any help with that costume!

The trunk or treat was fun. First was games--fishpond, bobbing for apples,


basketball, cake walk, face painting




and sno-cones.



(don't let the apple fool you--she had more than enough candy to counteract that!)
Next we moved to the ramada for dinner--chili and hotdogs. I made white chili that actually won the award for the best white chili. The recipe I used was from My Kitchen Cafe. I used shredded chicken instead of cubed, but I guess it ended up turning out yummy. After dinner was the trick or treating, where the kids get more candy than they ever know what to do with. It was a fun night overall--everyone cooperated--even Ruby was a trooper and did great.

Brian was a chili judge. (Hopefully that is not why I won, haha.)


Once we got home, of course everyone had to assess the damage and sort and trade and eat (and eat and eat).



She ended up with the least amount of candy but has eaten the most since yesterday!




Today was kind of trick--we got into the car to go to church and I had a dead battery. Brian was already at church at meetings, so I called my neighbor. He was going to come help, but I had to get jumper cables from my across the street neighbor, then Brian came home, but between three guys, they got it started. Then my A/C was blowing warm air! I am so bugged! So we'll see what that brings tomorrow.

After church and after having my girls clean up from the morning tornado, we made and frosted sugar cookies.



(Poor Libby in this picture--one of our neighbors who came trick-or-treating dropped her little wand, so Ellie and Libby tried to track her down to return it. Well, I guess there was a boy in a scary costume with red eyes in the mask who started chasing them. They took off and got tangled in each other's feet and rolled in the street. Libby had a little road rash on her shoulder. Poor girl, but I know she'll look back and laugh on it.)

For dinner we had mummy wraps (hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls) and mummy pizzas. I tried to be festive.

Happy Halloween!!

Sacrament Program and Young Women in Excellence

This past Sunday was our Primary program in sacrament meeting. I was hopeful that Libby would go up this time and sing and do her part. She had her part memorized the day it was given to her. She did excellent in the Sunday and Friday night practice they had--did her part, no big deal. When we walked into church on Sunday, Libby got really quiet and clingy. I knew where this was going. I hope that I'll be able to look back in a few years and say, "Is that the same Libby who wouldn't get up?!" Hopefully. She wouldn't do it. We tried to encourage/urge/bribe her to do it but she wouldn't. Oh well. At least she did the practices and she learned her part and was able to internalize it. On the other hand, Eliza and Ellie did well. Ellie was singing her heart out again--really getting into it. Eliza does well in those situations, too. Next year, Hattie will get to be in it. Can't wait for that!

It's Young Women in Excellence "season." Being in the stake YW, I get to attend all the ones in the stake. Last week one ward did "From Pigtails to Pearls" and decorated all in pearls. It was so neat--for the projects, they had the girls do a project with their mom and then tell about it. As part of the new Personal Progress program, the mothers are encouraged to work on their medallion right along with their daughter(s). It was such a terrific idea to have them do their project for YW in Excellence with their moms. So cool. This week we had two to attend--one Tuesday and one Wednesday. The one on Tuesday was "Becoming Beautiful." It was kind of a little program but very well thought out--every detail. The opening song was "Carry On," but one of the leaders changed the words to incorporate all eight YW values into it. At the end, the girls came to the front holding a little pendant. They stayed up front and sang a special musical number called "Beautiful" by Cherie Call. What a great song with neat lyrics. During the song, they showed a slide show--first of celebrities and how the world defines beauty, then it showed pictures of the young women in their ward in various activities. It was very touching. Here are the lyrics:

Look at all the signs, Look at all the shows
All the glamorous people who claim to know
What perfection is and what makes beauty stay
But when all the styles go out and the labels fade away

It's what you give that makes you beautiful
It's how you live that makes your dreams come true
Keep your faith in this world,
And let the light of the Lord shine through
That's what makes you beautiful

Nothing burns as bright, nothing shimmers so
As the smile of a friend when hope is running low
And how your hand feels warm when you dry a tear
Love is still in fashion at the end of every year

Chorus

Even roses fade away in the snow
But the beauty in your heart can always grow

Chorus

Then each YW talked about her project. She also wore the color that represented the value of her project. When each YW exited from talking about her project, she went out the side door and in the back door and sat in the back. Then when they all came to the front again for the closing song they were going to sing, they all had white shirts on. It was just really neat. The closing song was "Virtue," which I just love.

Last night was our wards: "The Many Costumes We Wear." Two of the young women planned the night for a project. The leaders went over the personal progress program. Using a laptop and projector, they showed the new PP site on-line, so I thought that was neat. Three girls told about their projects and then there was a speaker who talked about the "costumes" we wear.

So three nights down, three to go. I do enjoy going and seeing the ways the various wards showcase what the girls have done during the year.

Inspirations

I loved this podcast on patience.

This is a beautiful story/video. I think I'll use it in FHE tomorrow night.

And I love this quotation: In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. Mother Teresa

Age One Stats

Ruby had her one year well check appointment. She checked out great. Dr. Jack said she is a big girl. She weighs 23.3 lbs, which is in the 80th percentile, and is 32" tall, which is the 100th percentile. She got two shots, which she didn't love, but happily she calmed down quickly and didn't have any side effects.
(photos courtesy of someone who swiped my camera again!)

Baking

OK--Looks like I'll be baking again this week. Gotta see if it's true to its name! Think it'll be the "Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie?" I hope so.

Tricks

Last weekend, Brian went on a camp out with some of the young men from our ward. To survive, I rented a couple of red-box movies for my girls to watch. One of them was the newest Tinkerbell movie. After it was over we watched the music video for one of the songs in the movie. In the video, there is a girl twirling a baton. After seeing that, Eliza hounded me to get out my baton and show her some things. Well, I didn't get out my batons that night, but I did show her my illusions and my no handed cartwheel. Wow--it's been a while. But it was fun trying to do the things I did 20 years ago. Ha ha. It was a sight I'm sure. I have since gotten out my batons and showed them some tricks. Eliza was pretty impressed. It's funny how things come back to you after so many years. Too bad I can't get the video to load. Haha.

Another Hattie-ism

In the car, Hattie likes to play I-Spy. Usually I'll just say, "I spy...," but she says, "I spy with my little eye..." So today I thought I would do it her way and I said, "I spy with my little eye..." Before I could finish that part, she interrupted me and said, "No, no Mom. You say, 'I spy with my big eye.'" I guess because I am a grown up I have to say "big" eye.

Spirit Day

A couple weeks ago, my girls' school had spirit week in conjunction with the local high school's spirit week. The last day was spirit day for the high school's first homecoming. Eliza really wanted her hair colored and Libby just wanted ribbons in those colors. I had Eliza ask her teacher to make sure it was okay, which it was, so we sprayed her ponytail that day. Libby decided she wanted her braid sprayed, too. We were very surprised she would want that!! She wanted her whole head done, but there was a warning on the hair spray to not do it on fine blond hair, so I was a little nervous. So we just did her braid. They looked very spirited!

Foodie

I might be turning into a foodie. At least a sweets foodie. I won't tell you how many times (almost every day) that I baked something last week. I just couldn't resist! I am always on the lookout for the best, softest chocolate chip cookie, so I had to test another recipe I found that promises to be the only recipe I'll ever need. It was pretty good. Then I tried another cookie recipe that someone sent to me. It was okay--not a hit. I made another recipe from a food blog that I like to look at. Again it was just okay. Then I made a couple other things that I can't remember now. But I love to try new things. Yesterday I made the yummiest chocolate/peanut butter bars. The recipe is from Our Best Bites. I don't think I could get tired of those.

And I am always looking for some new, easy dinners. So I've been experiementing with that, too. Some of my favorite places to look for recipes are Our Best Bites, The Pioneer Woman, My Kitchen Cafe and The Picky Palate--in fact there is a recipe up today that I might just have to try! Anyone have any favorite places to find easy, tried and true recipes?

Funny Phraseology

You'd think Hattie spoke Spanish for how she has been saying a particular phrase lately. She's been saying things like, "Why do we have to do that everyday single?" or "He is like that everyday single." At least for a while, it's too cute to correct her.

Long Lost Friend

I think my blog is a long lost friend! I can't keep up on it anymore. I can't believe it's already October. The air is turning a wee bit cooler. Just slightly, but I love the change. It's especially nice when I hike. It's finally not scorching hot. Soon enough though we are going to need a flashlight.

My girls are busily trying to figure out what they want to be for Halloween. Hattie vacillates from being Rapunzel to a princess to a ballerina to Strawberry Shortcake. Ellie hasn't decided either, although she has mentioned being a "girly girl" even though we aren't sure what that costume would look like. Libby knew first what she wanted to be--a butterfly. And we are going to make Eliza's costume--she is going to be an iPod. It's cute, so I hope it turns out.

My young women's calling has also been keeping me very busy. A couple weeks ago we had a leadership training. I did some pre-prep stuff to get ready, but that night, my assignment was to talk for a few minutes about the resources available on lds.org. I focused on the new on-line personal progress resource. I also spent some time talking about The Mormon Channel--the Church's radio station. There are so many great programs on there--I've been listening to episodes from Everything Creative and those have been fun. Lately there is so much filth and time-wasting things on TV and the radio, but on that station or on lds.org, there is so much tat is good and uplifting.

While I would have loved to hear her speak in person, I found a really neat campaign through Stephanie Nielsen's website. It's called Recapturing Beauty and it's sponsored by BYU Women's Services. Right now they have a 10-day challenge going on, which is really cool. I also like the resources on their site.

What else? Brian recently switched companies--he is now working for Raymond James. He does the same thing as a financial advisor, but just with a new company with more/better opportunity. It's been a TON of work and fairly stressful. Brian deals with stress much better than I do, so he is handling it well, but I know it's stressful trying to get his clients to come over with him and getting them all set up and keeping them happy, etc.

This is kind of random, but I think I am going to learn how to quilt. I have always appreciated the beauty of quilts but have never made one myself. I am looking into taking a class. I think I would like it mostly because of the cute fabrics that are available now. I am not sure Brian wants me to get into it for the cost factor, but I'll start with a small wall hanging or something. Haha.

Ruby is getting closer and closer to walking. She is doing it more and more but hasn't totally converted to walking all the time. Hattie is a stinker! She is very funny and can be very sweet, but she does have a ornery streak. She knows we don't say the word "stupid" in our house, so she's testing us by saying it. Quite often. I am trying to figure out the best tactic to combat that. Ellie is still just LOVING preschool. I need to tape her when she runs to the car when I pick her up. She has the biggest grin--ear to ear--the entire time. She is always talking about her classmates, wonders what the snack will be, sings the songs, tells me what they do in "P.E.", etc. Eliza and Libby are doing well in school. They are still like oil and water 95% of the time, so that is a constant frustration for me. Then they do something cute like they did tonight, so maybe there is hope...Eliza has been working on drawing pictures to make a coloring book that she wants to sell to people. So I copied the drawings and we put a colored cover on it and stapled it so it was all done. Well, Libby went to her backpack and got a dollar and bought one from Eliza. She did all this quietly, then went to the kitchen table and colored the entire thing. I told Brian he needs to ask Libby if she'd sell her colored coloring book and then buy it from her. It was so sweet that she would support Eliza and be excited and willing to buy it from her. And everyone was asleep by 8:35. And Brian was at his bishopric meeting, so I am pretty proud of myself!

General Conference

I love General Conference weekend. And this weekend--today at least--was one of the best ones we've had in a while. Yesterday I had the thought to put two folding tables up in our family room and give each girl one side where they would do their conference packets. I also thought to get perler beads and have them work on those. Boy did that keep them quiet! Hattie lasted about a half hour with her packet, but I thought that was good for her, then she was off playing, but the other three sat and colored and made shapes with the beads the whole time. Ruby took a nap during each session, so Brian and I actually got to hear all of conference today! I can't think of the last time that happened! And boy were the talks so wonderful. I loved having my girls there working on something so they were quiet but also listening. We were able to discuss things from the talks to reiterate things. All the talks were great but a couple that stick out are Elder Holland's and Elder Anderson's. I can't wait to go back and re-read them all.

This is one funny--so funny--from today. One of the speakers--I think it was Elder Christofferson was talking about bringing light into our lives and one way was not allowing evil in such as pornography. I knew my girls had had a sharing time about it a while back, so I asked them, "Do you know what pornography is?" Everyone said no except one who said, "I do." Then I said, "Oh, okay--what is it?" She said (totally serious), "It's math." Holy cow--I looked over at Brian and we tried so hard to keep a straight face. It was hilarious!!!! Yes, math should be avoided like the plague, too. :) We told them it wasn't math, but told them what it was and what to do if something inappropriate is on. That sure gave us a good chuckle though!

I loved one thing that Sister Wixom said--"The world will teach our children if we don't." We have to teach our kids so the world doesn't.

After the second session, we went over to my parents' house and the dads went to the Priesthood session. Kamille watched my three little girls and two of her kids and the rest of us went to Ladies' Night at Deseret Book for a little bit. I actually won a prize--a book called The Silence of God. We didn't stay very long, then came back to my parents' house. My parents bought pizza for everyone, so we enjoyed dinner after the boys returned home. It was a fun night. Can't wait for tomorrow!