Friday, October 31, 2008
Trick or Treat?
Oh, the kids had so much fun trick-or-treating. Too bad it started raining. Benjamin was running so fast from house to house. Clearly, he understood the concept of getting as much as he could as fast as he could. Maddie also loved trick-or-treating. Ethan, age 6 kept asking when we could go home. I could not believe a child of mine was asking to go home when he could be getting candy. Brandon had fun and was sad when we went home. It didn't take long for Dylan to figure out the trick-or-treat thing. He is almost 2, and was thrilled to be getting treats. So cute. Anyway, here are some pics of the night of fun.
And best costume goes to-------
Scott Barzee. For Halloween he decided to be a U Fan. This entailed a mullet, a little extra weight via pillow, and a special beverage. He walked around saying, "Win or lose, we booze." Can you tell he is the biggest BYU fan? It was especially fun going trick or treating to the U fans in the neighborhood.
Making Halloween Cards
I love home-made cards. I used to LOVE to make them, I am just waiting till my kids get a little older to re-start the fun. My mother-in-law makes the cutest cards for the holidays for her grandchildren. I was only able to get four of them, as Maddie would not let go of her card for anything. I thought I would share them, as they are so cute, and she has such creative ideas. Love the little ghosts!!!
Happy Halloween!
The Whole Gang
Our dog Teddy the pirate!
Brandon the Gladiator
Maddie
Benj the pirate
Ethan/Batman
Dylan did NOT like his costume one bit!
Benj the pirate on deck
Dylan the green monster
Ethan loving his Batman moment.
A lovely princess
Gladiator Brandon
Our dog Teddy the pirate!
Brandon the Gladiator
Maddie
Benj the pirate
Ethan/Batman
Dylan did NOT like his costume one bit!
Benj the pirate on deck
Dylan the green monster
Ethan loving his Batman moment.
A lovely princess
Gladiator Brandon
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The Secret Life of Bees
A fabulous and much needed Girls Night------laughter, fun, and some great gals. Tepanyaki------with an inspiring movie, The Secret Life of Bees. It is one of the best movies I have ever seen. Bring your tissue box and your girlfriends for a great time. I wasn't expecting the amazing cast in this movie: Dakota Fanning, Aleshia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, and the acting was superb. Great story, great night.
Halloween Eve
My son Brandon, announced this morning that today is Halloween Eve. I asked him what that meant. He said that on Halloween Eve, you are able to wear your costumes, I guess in preparation for the actual, real, Halloween day. I guess it takes lots of practice and preparation to be ready for Halloween. I think he gets his desire to stretch out the Halloween holiday from me. I just love Halloween. So today, I wish you all a most Happy Halloween Eve. Maybe it means that we should also eat lots of candy today. Hmmmmm. This might be fun. Indulge yourself, every day is not Halloween Eve.
The kids were enjoying dressing up on Halloween Eve day. They played in their Spiderman, Snow White, and fireman costumes. I was threatened that if I showed you Brandon in the kangaroo costume, my blog would be deleted. So, you will just have to imagine little Brandon in the kangaroo costume (Sorry, the picture is much better, but I don't want my blog deleted, although I probably shouldn't give into threats like that--------isn't that promoting terrorism?)
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Exploding Pumpkins
Here is a video to help get you in the Halloween spirit! Look what my husband and his buddies did this weekend! I was laughing so hard at this video, which was filmed and created by my friend Steph's husband, Andy Selcho! So great! I love the slow motion and the background laughter!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Which color tree are you?
For some reason, I am just feeling so Christmasy this year---already! I am excited for the holidays!!! So, what color tree are you?
Traditional Green
White
Black
Pink
Red
Purple
BYU Blue---When I saw this one, I wanted to buy one for Brandon, and also one for my neighbors Scotty and Angie. Lucky for everyone, they were out of them. I know our neighbors, The Pace's would really love this tree. Maybe I can go find some at another Walmart!
I am fascinated by the array of colors you can choose for your Christmas tree. Once upon a time, long ago, when I was a child and had to walk through the snow, 3 miles to school and back (OK, that never really happened!)-----anyway, what I am trying to say, is back in the day, when I was a little girl (and probably up to about 5 years ago), Christmas trees used to only come in one color. Green.
Wow, we were so deprived. How did we ever survive? It is a miracle. Now, you can choose what color of the rainbow you want your tree to be. They have black, pink, red, purple, blue, white, and then of course, the original green colored tree.
I had to take pictures, as I actually find most of these colors quite peculiar. It would fascinate me to do a study on what types of people buy what color trees. I would love to see that person that can't live without a purple Christmas tree in their home. Where do they place their purple or pink tree---and how is the rest of their home decorated? So many questions-------just left unfulfilled. Maybe one day we will know the answers to such poignant questions. Until then, we are left with some Christmas wonder! I think the various colors of the Christmas tree can match various personalities. So, which color tree are you?
Traditional Green
White
Black
Pink
Red
Purple
BYU Blue---When I saw this one, I wanted to buy one for Brandon, and also one for my neighbors Scotty and Angie. Lucky for everyone, they were out of them. I know our neighbors, The Pace's would really love this tree. Maybe I can go find some at another Walmart!
I am fascinated by the array of colors you can choose for your Christmas tree. Once upon a time, long ago, when I was a child and had to walk through the snow, 3 miles to school and back (OK, that never really happened!)-----anyway, what I am trying to say, is back in the day, when I was a little girl (and probably up to about 5 years ago), Christmas trees used to only come in one color. Green.
Wow, we were so deprived. How did we ever survive? It is a miracle. Now, you can choose what color of the rainbow you want your tree to be. They have black, pink, red, purple, blue, white, and then of course, the original green colored tree.
I had to take pictures, as I actually find most of these colors quite peculiar. It would fascinate me to do a study on what types of people buy what color trees. I would love to see that person that can't live without a purple Christmas tree in their home. Where do they place their purple or pink tree---and how is the rest of their home decorated? So many questions-------just left unfulfilled. Maybe one day we will know the answers to such poignant questions. Until then, we are left with some Christmas wonder! I think the various colors of the Christmas tree can match various personalities. So, which color tree are you?
Sunday, October 26, 2008
My Little Monster
You didn't know I was a talented knitter did you---I didn't either. Got this one and a matching smaller one at a garage sale for $1 each. I am so impressed that someone took the time to do this! I am just glad it wasn't me.
Guess who cut her bangs?
I'll give you two guesses, and the first one doesn't count. Yes, my sweet 2 year old Maddie is on one lately. Luckily, I had her hair in pigtails, or she probably would've gotten to the rest of her hair.
On another note, I just loved this pink ballerina type dress while it was on the hanger. In person, it sorta' looks like someone had a little too much cotton-candy, if you know what I mean!
The redemption: It is a great "spin" dress.
On another note, I just loved this pink ballerina type dress while it was on the hanger. In person, it sorta' looks like someone had a little too much cotton-candy, if you know what I mean!
The redemption: It is a great "spin" dress.
In the doghouse
Literally, I found little Dylan (almost 2) in the doghouse. Maddie (almost 3) was clearly responsible. She was standing right next to the doghouse, watching Dylan with a big smile on her face. Dylan thought it was funny too---I don't think he realized he couldn't get out. Gotta' love your big sister! One day she will owe him big for some of these antics! Luckily, I had my camera handy, so I took a quick picture and released him from his captivity!
Give Yourself Away---Spiritual Thought Sunday
Many of us have heard the first part of this story, but not part 2.
“A young mother on an overnight flight with a two-year-old daughter was stranded by bad weather in [the] Chicago airport without food or clean clothing for the child and without money. She was two months pregnant and threatened with miscarriage, so she was under doctor’s instructions not to carry the child unless it was essential. Hour after hour she stood in one line after another, trying to get a flight to Michigan. The terminal was noisy, full of tired, frustrated, grumpy passengers, and she heard critical references to her crying child and to her sliding her child along the floor with her foot as the line moved forward. No one offered to help with the soaked, hungry, exhausted child. Then, the woman later reported, ‘Someone came towards us and with a kindly smile said, “Is there something I could do to help you?” With a grateful sigh I accepted his offer. He lifted my sobbing little daughter from the cold floor and lovingly held her to him while he patted her gently on the back. He asked if she could chew a piece of gum. When she was settled down, he carried her with him and said something kindly to the others in the line ahead of me, about how I needed their help. They seemed to agree and then he went up to the ticket counter [at the front of the line] and made arrangements with the clerk for me to be put on a flight leaving shortly. He walked with us to a bench, where we chatted a moment, until he was assured that I would be fine. He went on his way. About a week later I saw a picture of Apostle Spencer W. Kimball and recognized him as the stranger in the airport’ ” (Edward L. Kimball and Andrew E. Kimball, Jr., Spencer W. Kimball [1977], 334).
Part 2 of the Story
The following letter, was sent to President Kimball many years after he helped the woman at the airport:
“Dear President Kimball:
“I am a student at Brigham Young University. I have just returned from my mission in Munich West Germany. I had a lovely mission and learned much. …
“I was sitting in priesthood meeting last week, when a story was told of a loving service which you performed some 21 years ago in the Chicago airport. The story told of how you met a young pregnant mother with a young screaming child in … a [condition of] distress waiting in a long line for her tickets. She was threatening miscarriage and therefore couldn’t lift her child to comfort her. She had experienced four previous miscarriages which gave added reason for the doctor’s orders not to bend or lift.
“… You comforted the crying child, and explained the dilemma to the other passengers in line. This act of love took the strain and tension off of my mother. I was born a few months later in Flint, Michigan.
“I just want to thank you for your love. Thank you for your example!” (quoted by Gordon B. Hinckley, in Christmas Devotional address, 18 Dec. 1983).
Matthew 25:34-40
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
MOSIAH 2:17
And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
Some people serve only those they enjoy being around and avoid all others, showing that their love for others is limited. Jesus commanded us to love and serve everyone. We show our willingness to give of ourselves when we love and care about all people.
We should look for Opportunities to Serve:
Elder Hans B. Ringger of the Seventy:
“We need to look around us, and if we cannot see poverty, illness, and despair in our own neighborhood or ward, then we have to look harder. And remember, we cannot be afraid to go beyond our own social and cultural circles. We have to rid ourselves of religious, racial, or social prejudices and expand the boundaries of our service. Service should never discriminate and is hardly ever easy. Did not Jesus Himself mingle with those who were branded unfit by the self-righteous Pharisees? And were not those people the ones who needed Him the most?” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1990, 33; or Ensign, May 1990, 26).
President Spencer W. Kimball:
“God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom. The people of the Church need each other’s strength, support, and leadership. … So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane [ordinary] help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds!” (“Small Acts of Service,” Ensign, Dec. 1974, 5).
Elder M. Russell Ballard:
“We observe vast, sweeping world events; however, we must remember that the purposes of the Lord in our personal lives generally are fulfilled through the small and simple things and not the momentous and spectacular.”
Later in the same talk, Elder Ballard spoke about small and simple things we can do to help others, concluding:
“We must never ignore or pass by the prompting of the Spirit to render service to one another”
One way to develop charity is to serve others. When we serve others we show our love for them and for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This increases our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus, and our desire to serve them increases. This desire manifests itself in greater desire to serve others. As we serve others, our love continues to grow.
I teach Sunday School and this is the lesson for today, as found on lds.org
“A young mother on an overnight flight with a two-year-old daughter was stranded by bad weather in [the] Chicago airport without food or clean clothing for the child and without money. She was two months pregnant and threatened with miscarriage, so she was under doctor’s instructions not to carry the child unless it was essential. Hour after hour she stood in one line after another, trying to get a flight to Michigan. The terminal was noisy, full of tired, frustrated, grumpy passengers, and she heard critical references to her crying child and to her sliding her child along the floor with her foot as the line moved forward. No one offered to help with the soaked, hungry, exhausted child. Then, the woman later reported, ‘Someone came towards us and with a kindly smile said, “Is there something I could do to help you?” With a grateful sigh I accepted his offer. He lifted my sobbing little daughter from the cold floor and lovingly held her to him while he patted her gently on the back. He asked if she could chew a piece of gum. When she was settled down, he carried her with him and said something kindly to the others in the line ahead of me, about how I needed their help. They seemed to agree and then he went up to the ticket counter [at the front of the line] and made arrangements with the clerk for me to be put on a flight leaving shortly. He walked with us to a bench, where we chatted a moment, until he was assured that I would be fine. He went on his way. About a week later I saw a picture of Apostle Spencer W. Kimball and recognized him as the stranger in the airport’ ” (Edward L. Kimball and Andrew E. Kimball, Jr., Spencer W. Kimball [1977], 334).
Part 2 of the Story
The following letter, was sent to President Kimball many years after he helped the woman at the airport:
“Dear President Kimball:
“I am a student at Brigham Young University. I have just returned from my mission in Munich West Germany. I had a lovely mission and learned much. …
“I was sitting in priesthood meeting last week, when a story was told of a loving service which you performed some 21 years ago in the Chicago airport. The story told of how you met a young pregnant mother with a young screaming child in … a [condition of] distress waiting in a long line for her tickets. She was threatening miscarriage and therefore couldn’t lift her child to comfort her. She had experienced four previous miscarriages which gave added reason for the doctor’s orders not to bend or lift.
“… You comforted the crying child, and explained the dilemma to the other passengers in line. This act of love took the strain and tension off of my mother. I was born a few months later in Flint, Michigan.
“I just want to thank you for your love. Thank you for your example!” (quoted by Gordon B. Hinckley, in Christmas Devotional address, 18 Dec. 1983).
Matthew 25:34-40
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
MOSIAH 2:17
And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
Some people serve only those they enjoy being around and avoid all others, showing that their love for others is limited. Jesus commanded us to love and serve everyone. We show our willingness to give of ourselves when we love and care about all people.
We should look for Opportunities to Serve:
Elder Hans B. Ringger of the Seventy:
“We need to look around us, and if we cannot see poverty, illness, and despair in our own neighborhood or ward, then we have to look harder. And remember, we cannot be afraid to go beyond our own social and cultural circles. We have to rid ourselves of religious, racial, or social prejudices and expand the boundaries of our service. Service should never discriminate and is hardly ever easy. Did not Jesus Himself mingle with those who were branded unfit by the self-righteous Pharisees? And were not those people the ones who needed Him the most?” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1990, 33; or Ensign, May 1990, 26).
President Spencer W. Kimball:
“God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom. The people of the Church need each other’s strength, support, and leadership. … So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane [ordinary] help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds!” (“Small Acts of Service,” Ensign, Dec. 1974, 5).
Elder M. Russell Ballard:
“We observe vast, sweeping world events; however, we must remember that the purposes of the Lord in our personal lives generally are fulfilled through the small and simple things and not the momentous and spectacular.”
Later in the same talk, Elder Ballard spoke about small and simple things we can do to help others, concluding:
“We must never ignore or pass by the prompting of the Spirit to render service to one another”
One way to develop charity is to serve others. When we serve others we show our love for them and for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This increases our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus, and our desire to serve them increases. This desire manifests itself in greater desire to serve others. As we serve others, our love continues to grow.
I teach Sunday School and this is the lesson for today, as found on lds.org
My Dog with Human Eyes
Being Halloween time, I thought you might enjoy our dog Teddy's super freaky human eyes. SPOOKY! Hope I didn't give you nightmares!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Regret
I have decided with all the pictures I take, it would be funny to make a "FEELINGS" poster, with my kids faces and their various feelings. This is the beginning of this amusing project. I thought Maddie perfected the feeling of regret in photo form.
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