Hannah's dress

I LOVE to take pictures of my kids. They don't love it nearly as much as I do. I do understand. It takes a lot of time to get your hair all done and then walk around for over an hour saying, "smile, please stop whining," and be told about fifty times "one more picture". I always wonder if it is even worth it, and then I look at the pictures latter and realize that all the complaining was worth while. I hope that one day Hannah will be able to look back at these pictures and be able to remember this very special day.

A Day to Remeber

Today is my little sister Lynnett's birthday, but it also will be remembered as the day my Hannah got baptized. I think every LDS mother thinks about this day when their child is born. Hannah's Grandma Lois mentioned that she is as clean today as the day she was born. It has been a lot of work to try to make this day very special for Hannah. More than anything I hoped to make her feel like a little princess. Grandma Pam recognized my efforts as she shared her testimony and talked to Hannah about how today she looks like a princess and her Father in Heaven sees her as a just that, a princess. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to have Hannah as my daughter. She is so smart and beautiful. I was very excited that she was able to be baptized in the dress my mother made for me. It was also very rewarding to be able to make her a beautiful whit dress of her very own. It has been a wonderful day, and I am grateful for my many blessings.

"Live so you won't regret the first impressions you leave when meeting new people."

I would hope that more often than not I leave people with a good impression, but I know that there have been times that I have not done a very good job. I have this wonderful friend Kat from Idaho. I did not remember the very first time I met her, but boy did she. Lucky for me I had no idea that she was telling her husband that I was the mean girl she met at church, and I set up a play date with our girls. It was a little strange when she told me that she hated me and when we were both put in Young Women's together her thought was "Shoot know I actually have to get to know her and she is probably nice." Things all worked out for that situation, but I am sure that there are others that maybe have not worked out so nicely.

I hope that the first impression I gave you was a positive one. If not I hope you get that chance to get to know me better.

Cinderella Kids

I am so excited to have had the opportunity to direct my very first play. My kids all got to be part of it. It was a little crazy at times trying to get 40 kids to listen be quiet and then sing and be loud. At the beginning of the week I was not sure if we would be able to have a show at all, but the kids all did a WONDERFUL job! I had a few more pictures, but I think maybe there is a limit of pictures you can post on one blog. More than anything this opportunity allowed me to use my talents of creating, and gave me something special to do with my kids. This is the pumkin I made, and one set of little mouse ears.

We had a wonderful fairygod mother

and our stepsisters and stepmother were fantastic.

My kids were really fun for me to watch.

I LOVE my littel Bonnie mouse

I could not have been more happy with a fabulous Cinderella

What a great bunch of kids! I could not have done this show without Ashley and Tracie!

What have I learned this Summer

It has been a very busy summer for me. I have been given many opportunities to learn some new skills. Some of my big things I have accomplished.

I got to take bridal pictures for my sister Vannesa.

I got to attend the sealing of my sister and brother-in-law.

and take some pictures of them outside the temple.

This was one of my favorite pictures.

I could not be more grateful to my sister Anngela. She was the wedding planner.

I made my very first wedding cake. I feel like I took a little class on line. I am so grateful to all those people out there that put videos on the internet. It is amazing what you can learn with the help of the Internet.

I made my very first tie. I ended up helping to make about fourteen ties by the end of the wedding. I also enjoy having a reason to make my girls little outfits to match.

Tonight I am finishing up all the props I am over for the Cinderella production that I have been given the opportunity to direct. I made about 30 head bands. I engineered four wheels. Made two pumpkins and a carriage. I have done my best to instruct 40 kids how to sing, act, and stay put with their mouths closed for the past six weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am thrilled to see the show go on, and very excited to see it all together. I am sure like the wedding day it will not be perfect, but it will be a time in my life that I will always remember.

More than anything this last month I have been given a greater appreciation for all the talents and skills I have been able to develop. About 6 1/2 years ago I became a full time stay at home mom. I could not be more grateful for all that I have been able to learn during these years of being home. A few months ago I had a friend come over to teach how to make hair bows. It was funny as she told me that she was so impressed with the many things I have made. She recalled the many times in Young Women's that I would end up in tears over some project we were working on because I did not like how it turned out. I have always had a desire to be able to do projects and I am grateful that in time I have been blessed with the ability to serve others with the talents I have developed.

July 4th celebration

We had a fun time at the Murray parade.

It would not be the fourth of July without attending a parade.

Steven and Katie got to be part of the parade this year.


The kids made some fun crafts and got these really cool face paintings at the Sandy celebration.

By the middle of the day I think we all felt about like this.For the evening we went to a fun little museum in South Jordan. It had a cute little old house and a few old barns and these fun old truck and tractors. I did not torture the kids and make them take a bunch of pictures in front of all of them, but I would have loved it!