Merry Christmas 2011

It is hard to believe how quickly time goes. I guess that is just part of life. I suppose I would be unhappy if I had nothing to do. I am so grateful to have children to attend school programs and class parties. It is nice to have neighbors that I want to give a little something to show that I care, and I am very grateful to have family members to give gifts to. I'm happy that I have goals and a passion to find opportunities to do things that I love. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to play the part of Grace in "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". I realize that I am very lucky to have a husband that loves me enough to let me get busy and give me love and support when I feel like I just cannot keep up with all of it. This December has been a month to remember, and I'm grateful for all that I am learning and the wonderful opportunities I have had. More than anything it makes me truly excited for what is to come this new year 2012. There is a little saying, "Opportunity is knocking." The question is are you going to answer it? And, what if for some reason opportunity is not at your door. Well, track it down it cannot be too hard to find, but once you find I hope you have your running shoes on. My shoes are on, bring on 2012!

Christmas Card 2011

Kids costumes Halloween 2011

Hannah, Rock Star


Connor, Zombie

Bonnie, Pretty Princess

Jack-0-lanterns 2011

Pumpkin Patch 2011

We had a lot of fun at the Pumpkin patch. I enjoyed having us all together to take pictures. The kids had fun choosing their pumpkin.

Hannah's Pumpkin

Bonnie's pumpkin
Connor's Pumpkin

My Pumpkins!

Taking them home

I'm going to be 31

It is hard to believe that I am actually going to be 31. I was ready to turn 30. I knew that my youngest child would start school, and I would be starting a new era in my life. Well, the last year has been great. I told Paul, "I am a little worried that I am going to Die. I've done everything that I wanted to do." I got married, had three beautiful kids, and I have had the opportunity to be in film. Paul told me that I had better make some new goals.

So, I took his advice. I have made some really crazy new goals. I guess you could also call them dreams. I remember dreaming as a teenager. I would picture me kneeling at the alter of the temple. All I could see was hands holding mine. I would wonder who those hands belonged to, but I knew what I wanted. I could see it in my mind, and it happened.

If I take that same learning experience and put it into today's dreams all I have to do is picture it in my mind. With a picture in my head I will naturally begin to do those things that will make that dream become a reality.

It won't happen over night, but what I've learned is that it is truly more about the process. I wanted to do film at age 12 and it took until age 30 to finally be in a position that I could make that happen. It took years of learning and research to make it happen. I guess what I have realized is that the things we really want in life don't just happen without some effort and most of the time a lot of effort on our part.

So, here comes age 31. I think I am ready for this new year in my life, whatever may come my way, and it will are begin on Saturday!

I'm BACK!

For some reason or another my blog has not allowed me to add a post. Paul looked at it tonight and it seams to be working. I am looking forward to adding a few highlights from the last six months. My Father in law had mentioned that I would have updates on our trip back in June and I was not able to post anything. I missed being able to put down my thoughts and pictures of events.

Mother's Day 2011

Mother's Day is always a fun day at my house. Paul found this year to be easier than ever. I had been saving up for a blend tech blender. I decided that if I asked for this as my Mother's Day gift I would get it much sooner. It has been fun to experiment making smoothies and treats. I think the kids have all enjoyed having milk shakes with whatever kind of candy bar they would like. I made my first loaf of zucchini bread with a recipe from the book that cam with it. It has not only been fun for me, but for the entire family. So, when it came to buying a gift I made things very easy for Paul. Then the kids woke up and got right to work making mother days cards. That just left making breakfast. Paul made me my usual crepes with strawberries and cool whip. I got to add a strawberry grape juice to go along with the breakfast thanks to my new blender. My kids showed me much love and appreciation. I feel lucky to be the mom of such wonderful children,and a great husband!

Hannah and Bonnie were pretty happy about breakfast too.

Camera Practice

Four kids, Two hours, and Six Stores

What a day. I needed to get some errands done today. My oldest daughter Hannah had her friend over and asked if she could come along. I told her that I didn't know how much fun it will be, but she can come if she wants to. They each had a few dollars of their own and were itching to buy something with their own money. We only had two hours to get the girls back for activity days. I was not sure that we would get everything done. The trickiest part is getting the kids in and out of the car. However, the kids surprised me. It is wonderful to be able to come to a stop and simply say,"OK, everybody out!" And out they hopped! Are little trip went as follow. Dollar Tree, Target, Big Five, Sally Beauty, Walmart, and Costco. I love having so many stores right at my finger tips. Lucky for us we didn't have a long list of items to get at any of the stores. I think the best part was because we were so short on time we really had to stick to the list. We didn't have time to just walk around and find little things to spend our money on. The kids got the chance to purchase a couple of things that they wanted. As we were leaving Walmart Hannah was skipping to the car and said "This was the best day ever". I guess even kids can enjoy a day out shopping with Mom.

Mario Birthday

Connor is SEVEN. In school this year he got to be deputy of the week. We worked together to make this fun poster with facts and pictures of Connor. He got to help his teachers all week long. Both the class and Connor had fun the day Connor got to take a book in to read. He chose the book "Silly Faces See Me at the Circus". The teacher said that the kids all really enjoyed this silly book. I let Connor choose his theme for his birthday party this year. He had a difficult time deciding between Michale Jackson and Mario. I suggested that he flip a coin. Connor thought that was a great idea, and Mario won! I would have been happy to come up with either party, but was pleased to put together a Mario party. He has been into Mario for a few years, and I enjoy stretching my imagination.

This was the invitation I came up with. I was pleased that he could tell what I was trying to do.

I decorated using stars. Connor was OK with this. He really wanted boxes with question marks on them. I am sure that would have been really cute, but sometimes their just isn't enough time to do everything.

I was so happy that Connor's friends were able to come. It wouldn't be a party without his friends.

Connor's Cake. I kept this simple this year. I used cupcakes to make the letter M for Mario!

It has become a bit of tradition to serve pizza at the kids parties.

We came up with some fun games using ideas from Mario Party Eight game.

This is how we pulled of the game "cut from the team". You could not tell who's string you were cutting up until the last two strings, so we had to have the last person cutting close their eyes. It turned out to be a lot of fun.

some of the other games we played were.

"Mash pit playroom"

We had three different color balloons. About nine of each color. The kids were divided into three different teams. The goal of the game is to pop all of your teams color balloons first.

"Sugar Rush"

We had a cupcake with simple decorations. I used Frosting, red chocolate star, and red and blue M&M's. The kids had to decorate their cupcake to match.

"Balloon Pump Game"

We used a bike pump and water balloons (NO WATER). The kids were timed to see how quickly they could blow up their balloon and make it pop. I could not remember the name of this game on Mario eight, but this was one of the kids favorite games.

March 26, 2011

On Connor actual birthday we took everyone out to eat and then came home for presents. Connor was happy to get a new bike.

He also got a few other fun toys.

Dad was happy to work with Connor to put together his new Lego.

Happy Birthday Connor

Green Dinner 2011 and more!

St. Patrick's Day was a lot of fun this year. It started out with Hannah's assignment for school to make a leprechaun trap. The instructions were that they do not obey signs, they love things that are green, sparkly, and shiny. We made this fun little maze together.

Bonnie informed everyone the night before. "You better wear green tomorrow or you will get pinched by a leprechaun or Mom!" She is right. Mom sleeps in her green pajama pants and tells everyone if she sees them with out green they will get a pinch.

We started the day out with green waffles.

I made myself some extra yummy green waffles.

The day was a little busy, but with a bit of planning we still all got to enjoy green dinner together. We had BBQ chicken in the crock pot, with green mash potatoes, and some other green stuff on the side.

It is tradition to have sugar cookies on St. Patrick's Day. It's funny how things workout sometimes. With the day being go go go kind of day I figured that was one thing we were just going to have to go without this year. However, my dear friend Kim stopped by to pick something up from me and dropped of some very yummy sugar cookies. Sometimes our special traditions get to continue simply because of other people.

Hannah requested to have green jello this year. I don't care much for jello, but holidays are a day to make something just because one person wants it. I found this cute little pretzel mold and decided it would be fun to green chocolate covered pretzels. The kids all really liked these.

Pickle face!

It is fun to have a special day just to do things a little different, but most importantly to get to do them together!

KIds Musical Sleeping Beauty

I was very excited for the opportunity to help out with the Lehi Arts production of Sleeping Beauty. It is always fun to watch these young kids put on a really good show. They each get to do a little audition for a part.

Sometimes you get a role of someone pretty and nice.
Other times you get to to have a little more fun!
Don't let her fool you, Hannah was one evil goon.All the cute fairies

All the scary GOONS!

Well, I can not get my picture to move. I guess you know how it ends!

It was so much fun for both of my girls to have good friends to be in the show with.

The Royal Family

Maleficent

Sneaky Hannah, peeking out behind a tree. The goons discovered the fairies.

The three fairies

Aurora birds singing together.

The DRAGON

The Prince and his true love.

The Cast of Sleeping Beauty 2011