Family Pictures

These are the same pictures that I posted in my last post, I just made them into a collage.

Jakob's Special Day

Yesterday was a special day for Jakob. He was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood in our Church, and he was made a Deacon by his dad. Congratulations Jakob, we are so proud of you and the good choices that you have made.

Thanks to all of our family and friends who came to support Jakob on his special day!

Here are some family pictures that we took before church yesterday!

Christmas Card

Twelve Years Old

Today is Jakob's 12th birthday, I really don't know where the time has gone, it seems like just yesterday he was a tiny baby coming home from the hospital.( I have some really cute baby pictures of him, but lucky for him we don't have a scanner so I can't post any)

He is growing into a fine young man, and when I say growing I really mean growing. He is almost as tall as I am (Which isn't saying much because I am short) I am sure he is going to pass me up before the school year is over. It seems like every week he is telling me that his clothes are getting too small.

He is a really great big brother, and most of the time he is willing to do anything that I ask him to do!

Happy Birthday Jake!

The Joy of Christmas

Decorating the Christmas Tree

We took on the task of decorating our Christmas Trees last Saturday. Once we had everything put up, I was ready to take it all back down. Between Jena and Barnaby I will be redecorating my trees everyday!

15 Months Old

Jena turned 15 months on the 28 of November. She is so silly, her new things she like to do are say "duck, quack quack" (I have been trying to teacher her some other animal names and sounds but she only loves to say duck quack quack) she likes to spin around in circles and dance with her sister, she will even play dress up with Jacey. She loves our dogs, they tolerate her! She likes to lay on top of barnaby for some reason, he has become very patient with her probably because he doesn't like to get whacked if he growls or snaps at her.

I just had to to the Doctor yesterday, for her 15 month check up. She is doing everything a 15 month old should do. He was surprised to see that she has 4 molars, he said that she was a little early for them. He is still concerned about her weight, so we had to have blood drawn to have a thyroid test done and he also wants to check and make sure that she is absorbing fats so I have to take in a stool sample gross! They told me to keep it in the fridge until it was convenient to bring it in, that's not going to happen, no way am I going to keep poop in my fridge! ( We had her in a couple weeks ago for croup and she has lost weight since she was in for that)

He wants me to put her on pediasure 2 times a day, so if anyone knows where I can get a good deal on it let me know.

I'm sure all the tests are going to come back normal and he will finally see that it is genetic and then maybe he will stop worrying about how small she is!

Thanksgiving

I have been slacking off , We had a Wonderful Thanksgiving down in Utah. I got to spend some time with my Mom and Sister Rachel the day before Thanksgiving. We turned the kids over to their dads and went and saw New Moon!



We had lots of fun just hanging out and visiting with family. Now if only they would come and visit us soon!
This is my Dad, Joe and Jacey making butter flake rolls, if you ask me it looks like way too much work. I will stick to frozen Rhodes dough!


Joe and I even braved the crowdson the day after Thanksgiving and went to Sam's Club at 5 am. We didn't go to buy anything for Christmas we went to buy software for our computer, I can't believe that people enjoy getting up early in the morning to stand in line to buy things. I think Joe and I did the best Christmas shopping from the comfort of our family room, we didn't have to fight traffic or crowds it was great! got to love the Internet and online shopping.

My kids crack me up

Jacey had Harley the monkey over the weekend.( he is a sock monkey that the school counselor sends home with the kindergarten children to help them learn to share).

We needed to take pictures of Jacey and Harley Sharing. This is my favorite picture of the kids making monkey faces!

Crazy Hair

Today is crazy hair day at school. Josh's hair is pretty crazy today. I wanted to make his hair curly because he has the best curls,(why couldn't the girls have gotten his curls?) but he wanted it to stand up.

Guess who will be getting a hair cut before the day is over!

Jacey turns 6

Jacey had a birthday on the 7th, she is now 6 years old. We went down to Utah to celebrate her birthday, because Joe's brother Mike had rented the Layton Surf & Swim to celebrate his two children's birthday, and he just happened to have it rented on Jacey's birthday. (Thanks Mike for letting us celebrate at the pool).

We had a fantastic time playing in the waves with family and friends!

These are the cupcakes we made they have either strawberry shortcake, or little Mermaid picks on them ( we let Jacey choose what she wanted and she couldn't decide so we did both).

We Love you Jacey! Happy Birthday.

Puppy Love

I thought this was too cute!

This is our other dog Rocky, he isn't so cuddly anymore, he is getting to be a grumpy old man. We love him anyway!

Who needs a Dishwasher when you have a dog!

This is what I have to deal with everytime I open the dishwasher!

Halloween Pictures

Here are some pictures of the kids in their Halloween costumes.

Jakob was Darth Vader,

Josh was Captain America,

Jacey was a Cat, and


Jena was a fairy princess!

This was the first year that I had to take them out, Joe usually takes them, but being the nice person that he is he let all of the mom's at work take the night off so they could take their children trick or treating and he worked. Since he worked, I took the kids to the mall and then to trunk or treat at our church. We also hit a few of the houses in our neighborhood that we knew weren't at trunk or treat. I think they all had a good time. Jena loves candy just like the other kids!

14 Months old

My little monkey is 14 months old. She is so full of life, she totally loves her brother's and sister, she gets so excited when they come home from school everyday.

Her new word is duck. I didn't even know she knew how to say duck, but the other day she saw her duck in the bath tub and said duck, I was quite impressed!

We just love this girl to pieces and are so glad that she is a part of our family!

Thank You Iona First Ward Young Women

I just wanted to tell the Iona First Ward Young Women thank you so much for this really cute eatable center piece.

I love you guys all so much and miss you all tons! I had so much fun working will all of you and getting to know you!

Love you guys tons,

Thanks again for thinking of me.

New Callings

Well my calling as the CTR 7 teacher in primary was short lived. I was released today and called to be the secretary in the Young Women. I feel like I am back in my element, hopefully I will hold this calling for more than a week.

Joe has also been given a calling, he is going to be teaching in Elder Quorum once a month. This is a huge change from being the financial clerk. This I think will work out really well with work and also when he goes back to school!

Welcome the newest member of our family

Meet Barnaby, he is a Cocker Spaniel. ( I think he may be a mix of some other type of dog also). He belonged to one of Jakob's friends, but he wasn't working our for their family because both mom and dad work and the kids are at school all day so they were having to keep him locked up all the time. We thought that he might do better at our house where he will have Rocky to play with and I am at home most of the time.

Rocky doesn't know what to think of him yet, but I think they will warm up to each other, and the kids are in heaven having two dogs!

She's got moves!

I thought she was adorable dancing!

Behind Every Good Man

I just finished reading this fantastic book. One of my favorite quotes from the book was "No one can change a person, who is unwilling to change. Not even fear of death by cancer will stop the smoker who is unwilling to change. People don't change people. People change themselves or are changed by the Holy Ghost." -Dr. John L. Lund

I feel that Joe and I have a strong marriage and that he does take the spiritual lead in our home, but I found the advice in this book fantastic and am going to try hard to do the things that were suggested in the book.

My five year old is one smart cookie

Today before school Jacey was cutting up paper into little strips to play circus. She hands one to me and it says "tikits" (tickets) She hasn't started learning how to read in kindergarten yet, but I think she is a smart cookie when she sounds out words and writes them how she thinks they are spelled.

First Sunday in our new ward

We made it through our first Sunday in our new ward, and it wasn't bad. The kids all know quite a few people in primary, I on the other hand wanted to cry when I walked into sacrament meeting to a bunch of unfamiliar faces.
I have been given a calling I am the CTR 7 Teacher in Primary, I must say I am not sure how I feel about it. It has been at least 10 years since I have taught in primary so I am really nervous about it, and I am really going to miss being a part of the Young Women Organization.

Joe hasn't received a calling yet, so we are waiting to see what he will be doing in the ward. He says that he is enjoying not having a calling for the moment.

The Crayon Messages

I have read lots and lots of books, but today I sat down and read this book titled: The Crayon Messages, a visiting teaching adventure, by Christine Thackeray.

It was a super easy read that I really enjoyed and wanted to share with everyone. It is only 118 pages so if you have a couple of hours to spend this is a cute book that I think you may enjoy!

Aren't these two just so cute

When I was pregnant with Jena I worried that her and Jacey wouldn't get along or have anything in common because of the 5 year age difference, but as you can see these two love each

other very much! Jacey is so good with Jena, she loves to play with her (most of the time anyway), and Jena can't wait for Jacey to come home from school everyday!

I hope that they will always be good friends!

General Conference

I have been trying to come up with an idea to get my kids more involved in General Conference this weekend, a friend of mine gave me this link for a General Conference Primary Activity Packet. I hope that some of you will find it useful, I am looking forward to using some of the packet with my kids!
www.ldsresources.net/october-2009-conference-activity-packet/

13 Months

isn't she cute? We love this girl to pieces, even though she likes to scream at the top of her lungs!

Change is good right?

So lastnight was the Stake Meeting for boundary realignments and the creation of a new ward, and sure enough we were sent to a new ward. I have had a feeling since they announced that the split was going to happen that we were going to be a part of it.

I just want to tell all of you that read my blog that are in the 1st ward that I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have had to be a part of the 1st ward and for the friendships that I have made from being a part of the ward. I will miss seeing all of you at church each week.

I am grateful for the opportunity that I have had to serve in the Young Women organization. We have wonderful Young women! I love those girls so much and am going to miss them terribly.


The adventure begins. It will be hard going the first few times not knowing most of the ward, but I am really excited to get to know the other members of the 10th ward and to await a calling!

I will miss you Iona 1St ward!

Walk with Christ

Day 14

Read the Last Supper in John 13:4-15

As you go through the day find ways that you can bring Christ into your life. Try to remember Him always and keep His commandments.

I hope that you have enjoyed your journey to becoming closer to Christ.

Walk with Christ

Day 13

Julie B. Beck stated: "Whichever way a person starts studying the scriptures, the key to unlocking important knowledge is to keep studying. The scriptures testify of Christ. They tells us all things we should do. They make us wise unto salvation.

"The holy scriptures adorn our bookshelves. Make certain they provide nourishment to our minds and guidance for our lives."

Today, determine how you would like to study the scriptures, then make a plan as to when you will study. Follow this pattern to keep learning of Christ.

Walk with Christ

Day 12

Jesus was a compassionate forgiving man. Read Matthew 18:24-35 & Luke 23:34

Today, think of someone that may be seeking forgiveness from you. Often times, we find that we are offended when the person did not mean to offend us. When we choose to hold the grudge, we are the ones who end up hurting. Choose to forgive this person. Take time to let them know that you forgive them by talking with them, phoning them, or writing a letter. Sometimes just even forgiving them and letting it go without a discussion will help you to heal.

Walk with Christ

Day 11

Christ was often found in service. He healed the sick, preached the gospel to all who would listen, he raised the dead.

We too should be found in the service of our fellow beings. Can you think of someone who may need something you have to offer? A meal, time to talk, help in the house or yard. Take time today to serve someone.