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Still Alive and kick'n

Yes I am still here. Last time I went this long without posting I started receiving phone calls to see if I was alive, depressed or sick. So to my few faithful followers...life is good, all is well, just busy as all heck! :) (stay tuned for more details).

We celebrated THANKSGIVING with Tom and Diane and her family in Roy. Talk about a celebration! They had arts and crafts, a Wii room, Thanksgiving BINGO, Spoons, and enough food to feed a small country.

We then headed to Logan to do our pre-shopping game plan. With our lists and ads in hand we were ready! We sent Troy to Kohls at 3am for a projector machine but 3am apparently early enough. My mom, Adree and I headed to Walmart at 4:00 for a plethora of items. Troy caught up with us there for reinforcement and then headed to Home Depot. We continued on to Kmart and Kohls and were home by 7am.

Friday afternoon the guys did some four wheeling in the mountains and then met up with us to see the movie Twilight. No need for a movie review, you can decide for yourself.

At my parents house we had lots of laughs watching people play the Wii, and plenty of R & R and cuddle time.

Saturday was spent hanging up Grandma Larsen and great Grandma and Grandpa Smith's Christmas decorations.

Love the Holidays. The food, family and fun. What's not to love?

Checking 'em off....

I started off the month of October with about 10 projects/events that I was responsible for before Christmas and I am happy to report that after Hope's birthday party yesterday I am now down to TWO!! Never mind the fact that the two left are the biggest and most stressful OR that they both fall within the same week. The main thing is that I am checking 'em off...


Yesterday we had a fun filled day for Hope's fourth birthday. With so much fuss getting ready for the party how could she help but feel like a diva. (And now today we have the lovely task of un-diva-fying her).

PRINCESS HOPE

THE INVITATIONS

INSIDE THE INVITATIONS

A CAKE FIT FOR A PRINCESS

THE ATTENDEES

We played pirate and princess bingo, went on a treasure hunt, had a pinata, and played princess- princess- PIRATE (think duck-duck-goose). We had a small party melt-down when it came to deciding who was going to give Hope their gift first, and another when Hope thought she only got a Gabriella doll instead of a Troy Bolton doll. Luckily, her friends know her well and she got BOTH High School musical barbie dolls. Whew.... crisis averted!

Christmas Shopping....CHECK !

After a weekend getaway with my mom, sister and sister-in law (okay, it was actually two weekends ago but that's another story) I can now say I am ALMOST finished with all of my Christmas shopping. Sweet!!! I love shopping for anyone and for any reason so add a girls getaway to the mix and I am in HEAVEN!!!

And History is Made.....

No, the outcome wasn't what I wanted but I can't overlook the fact that another page in our history has been turned. This is what history is made of. One day our children will come home from school and ask us if we remember when the first African American was elected President of the United States. And oh, what stories we will have to tell. But considering that there are days I can't even remember my own children's names I figured I needed to preserve some of my thoughts and feelings about the Presidential Election 2008.

* A few facts: Barack Obama won the election with 364 electoral votes compared to John McCain's 162 electoral votes. The popular vote was less severe with 52% for Obama and 46% for McCain. Interesting Propositions were on the table. In California Proposition 8 to ban same sex marriage was passed but only with 52% of the votes. A similar proposition was passed in Arizona. In Michigan a proposition passed to legalize marijuana for medical purposes and with a doctor's prescription. Interesting signs of the times.

Random Ramblings...

* This campaign process was UGLY. Maybe I just didn't notice as much in the past but this one seemed even more vicious than others. So much mud-slinging, blaming, name calling, and I'm not just talking between candidates. Everywhere you looked there were such heated debates and arguments. I have to say I am glad it's over and hopefully now we can start looking at what's good about our country. It's sad to think that 911 put us on one end of the spectrum of unity and pride and this election put us about as far as you can get on the other end. (Am I being overly dramatic here? I think I have seen too many clips of The View lately.)

* I don't think Obama's victory means the end of the world. While the liberal fanatics are a huge part of his win, he now faces the people...ALL the people. If he wants to stay for two terms I think we will see him start to come towards the middle. We can only pray so... I think some of his beliefs and ideas are down right scary but time will tell.

* I believe Obama's victory was multi-faceted. Do I think it was purely because he is the best candidate...ummmm.... that would be a big N.O! But I think he had a lot on his side. "They" kept saying this election should not be about race but yet that is all we have heard about since his win. History has shown that in the past a fairly large percentage of voters vote based on looks. Why not race then? Second, let's say that we have two candidates who were fairly equal on the issues I would vote on the side of making history? Wouldn't you? Perhaps this accounted for some of his votes. Third, times are tough right now. With the economy in shambles and the Republicans in charge I think people are scared and just want to try something different. For that, I can place no blame.

* If nothing else we took a giant step away from voter apathy. I haven't been able to find the final results but they expected this election to yield one of the highest voter turnouts since 1968. Now that is something to get excited about. (On a sad side note, voter turnout in Utah was actually lower this year than the past election).

* And while I whole-heartedly believe that we now need to unite as a nation and support our new President I also don't think we have to sit idly and just take what comes our way. We still have a voice and the ability to influence outcomes. And that's what makes America so great.

The End.

More Lessons Learned

Two days ago I would have labeled this post "SPECTACULAR!" As in spectacular things are happening around our house. Now, we'll just label it "LESSONS LEARNED." I'll back up a bit...

Before Troy gave the girls their back to school father's blessings we sat down and talked about the individual needs of each of our children. We have always realized that Hallee's greatest strenghts could also be her downfall. She is so sweet, considerate of other's and has such a tender heart. She wants to please everyone and this sometimes this can result in the "doormat" effect. She tends to follow the crowd and has a hard time making her own decisions. Sometimes I wonder if this is because I didn't allow her to make many as she was growing up. It was just easier to make them for her.
So Troy and I decided to really focus on helping Hallee develop leadership skills; the ability to stand up for herself, make her own decisions, and be a leader and a good example. We have had many debates on how to balance this act out, not wanting to loose her sweetness or her kind heart along the way. We have said many prayers in her behalf, had countless teaching moments, and lots of bedtime discussions.

The other day during one of our "how was school today?" talks I saw God's hand at work. I had to fight back the tears (and a little bit of laughter) as she very dramatically told me about the different "groups" forming at school and how each one acts and treats others. I was able to hear how she has made decisions on her own, stand her ground, and choose friends who are kind to one another. It took a little restraint to not stand up on my chair and jump up and down. I was so proud of her!

As I was talking to Troy that night we realized how this is just the start of it. As we looked back on the last few months we have seen SO much growth in her. It was a true testament to the power of prayer and the council to pray for the individual needs of our children.

Now I wish I could say that we are on our way and we will never look back but I'm afraid it's just the beginning. We will still have quite a few lessons ahead of us. For example, yesterday as I got ready to take Hallee to dancing and decided I needed to break some news to her that I knew would be a little disappointing. Her best friend received the Dancer of the Month award again. Her friend is an incredibly gifted dancer and deserves it in every way shape and form. It is only given to a few students out of the entire studio. Now try explaining that to your six year old. Her tears instantly fell as I tried my best to explain this to her. It didn't help the situation that just the day before we had a similar discussion when Hope came home from primary with the reverence award for the third time. We talked about being happy for our friends and family and being proud of their accomplishments, that it's okay to be disappointed and you just need to keep doing your best even if you don't get recognized for it. Pretty complex topics for a young child. May take a few years to get a handle on this one... In fact, sometimes I think I still need to work on it myself.

Time to put away the costumes

Time to pack up the costumes and say goodbye to Halloween 08. We had tons of fun, the costumes got plenty of use, we have enough candy to feed a small country and the kids have now officially been on a sugar high for over 36 hours. I'd say it was a success.


With the exception of a few raindrops the weather could not have been more perfect. It was BEAUTIFUL! I think we have mastered the art of trick-or-treating by intertwining a progressive dinner with the trick-or-treating. Makes it enjoyable for all!!! Till next year....

You win some...you lose some.

Found this note on my bed...

Translation: Dear Mom. I love you but sometimes you are mean. But no matter where we go you always I love you always (she said she got kind of confused there). Friends Again. Hallee.

Thanks Hals. Glad we could work that out.

Wild Weekend Fun!

We had a wild and crazy weekend full of fun Halloween festivities. Friday night we went to Hallee's school carnival and had a blast. The kids played tons of games, Hope and Hallee learned a Monster Mash dance, and Caymbree stole the show with her cute little witch costume and squeaky shoes.

Saturday morning I was up at the crack of dawn and over at the church for Super Saturday. Everything went great but I am SO glad it's over. Another check off my to-do list. Saturday afternoon I took Hope and Hallee to see HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3. We LOVED it. I LOVED it. Don't judge me. Just go see it!!!

Sunday morning Hope and Hallee had their Primary program at church. They both did awesome with their parts but next time I might need to re-think telling Hope to sing really loud. During "I am a Child of God" it was pretty hard NOT to hear Hope yelling I mean, singing the song. Hallee had volunteered to be part of a small group of kids to sing a verse of "Called to Serve" in Spanish. She attended practices each Sunday to learn the song. Troy and I were beaming with pride to see her come out of her shell and perform.

Right after the Primary Program we jumped in the car and headed for Logan. We made it just in time for the luncheon following my cousins baby blessing on the Larsen side. We then spent a couple of hours at my parents house and then off to Jim and Amanies (cousin) house for an amazing Halloween party.

Hope and Jake showing off their mean pirate faces

All the cute little cousins showing off their costumes

The pirate and the poodle girl

And the highlight of the party was when Grandma and Grandpa surprised everyone by showing up in costume. Aren't they the greatest!!!

It was so good to be back in Logan with all the family. I think I was getting a little homesick. It's amazing how ridiculously hard it is too pull off a trip home. By about 7pm we loaded back up in the car and headed for home. Thanks for such a fun party Jim and Am!!!

By the time we got home all I could think about was having a day at home to re-group. That's when I remembered the Halloween party for playgroup. One of my committee members had worked so hard at preparing for the occasion so I really wanted to support her. And then there is always that nagging thought "what if no one shows up?" Silly me. 17 adults and 33+ kids made for a rip-roaring playgroup! We came home got Hope out of her costume for a few hours until it was time for dancing. Then back in the costumes, bag full of treats, and off to their Halloween dance party. I couldn't help but think of my friends comment regarding spending money on Halloween costumes that they only get to wear one night. Oh just you wait.... I think this season my kids will have worn their costumes on five different occasions before the holiday is over. I definitely get my money's worth!!! (Especially when Hope's is a hand-me-down from Hallee, Hallee's is borrowed from a friend, and I bought Caymbree's last year after Halloween for SIX dollars!!!!) And Troy says I can't budget!

pUNkIN fEsT

Our friends, the Galke's kicked off Halloween with a rock'n party complete with a carving contest, face painting, pizza and prizes. It is one of many Halloween parties we will be attending this year but this one will be hard to beat. Thanks for a great time guys!!

Gardner Village

Next item on the fall agenda....Gardner Village. I'm not sure if we made the mistake or if we lucked out by unknowingly showing up during the Wee Witches Weekend. It was crazy busy with people everywhere but it also meant lots of crafts, food and activities for the kids to choose from. My only real gripe came when I had to wait 25 minutes in a line of cars just to get out of the parking lot. We were SO excited when Grandma Smith and great Grandma Larsen decided to join us for the day. Their company makes everything more exciting.

What's a little mess....

It's sugar cookie time again. This time I got a little braver and decided to let the kids and their friends cut out their own shapes. I think they had more fun doing that that actually decorating them. I'm pretty sure I am going to find flour in the nooks and crannies of my hardwood floor for the next month or so but it was all worth it. Another memory in the making.

Picture Perfect Night at the Pumpkin Patch

Taking the kids to the PumPkin PaTCh has become one of our favorite family traditions. Rows and rows of pumpkins to pick from -- however will one choose?? Hallee goes straight for the biggest one she can find. Hope goes for something cute and small and Caymbree just wanders around tripping over the vines. After a three day COLD spell it felt like the perfect evening to be at the pumpkin patch. 15 pumpkins and $30.00 later we called it a success. Stayed tuned for more fall fun....

Alter Ego

Recently while delegating assignments I had a woman tell me "no, I'm too busy. I just can't do it." And while I nodded sympathetically to her list of reasons, I couldn't help but have a Lizzie McGuire moment. You know. The one where the cartoon version alter ego of yourself pops out and says everything you wish you could say but are too polite to actually do so. Anyway... the conversation went something like this...

"Oh ya, let's compare schedules. Currently in my duties as second councilor in the Relief Society I am attending meetings, doing weekly visits, finalizing and collecting money for Super Saturday, in the process of planning the Christmas enrichment, and meeting and overseeing the committee. On top of that, I am also serving as the VP of the Utah Judges Association and receive and transmit weekly e-mails, gather paperwork, make name badges, and sign-up sheets in preparation for our next big workshop the first in November. If that is not enough I am also preparing for my own drill team competition the first of December. Add to that volunteering in Hallee's school, helping out with the school carnival and classroom Halloween party. Then you can add the craft project I decided to make and sale at my competition. Hope's birthday is just around the corner and as it will be her first friend birthday party it will require some thought and preparation. Christmas and Hallee's birthday are looming out there as well. With two birthday's and Christmas in the wings I better substitute teach once a week to earn a little cash. Oh, ya. I also am in the middle of publishing my blog in hope to have it in time for Christmas." All the while I am hand on hip, head bobb'n, finger waving, just to make my point.

Then I take a deep breath, the alter poofs into thin air, I smile and say I understand, tell her I will find someone else (me, of course), and tell her not to worry about it. However, as the days have passed I have managed to find little admiration. At least she had the ability to say NO. Maybe I should try it sometime.

Just in time

One word. ECONOMY. Give anyone else a serious stomachache? It's been on my mind a lot lately. How could it not. It's everywhere!!! And while I feel somewhat secure in my own little life I can't help but feel a little sense of urgency. Urgency to update my food storage. Urgency to pinch my pennies and save for a rainy day. Urgency to take a break from finishing the basement (bummer), and to make sure all my ducks are in a row. And I hate to admit it but along with that urgency comes the fear. Fear of the unknown. What lies ahead? I'm watching it effect people all around me. Carmax just laid off 600 employees nationwide last week. Houses keep popping up for sale in my neighborhood. One of Hallee's cute little friends just moved in effort to downsize. I guess it only makes sense to be a little scared.



With it constantly on my mind Elder Jeffrey R. Hollands talk in General Conference yesterday felt like it was directed straight at me. I loved it. My favorite quote was towards the end when he said...

"The latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They are a time to be believing and live our covenants. The Lord will fight our battles, our children's battles and their children's battles.... and what does he ask of us in return? We are asked to SEARCH DILIGENTLY, PRAY ALWAYS and BE BELIEVING.

It was just in time...and just for me.

How full is your bucket?

A few months ago I read a great book called "How Full is Your Bucket?" by Tom Rath and Don Clifton. The theory is that each of us has an invisible bucket. It is constantly emptied or filled, depending on what others say or do to us. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it's empty, we feel awful.

Each of us also has a "dipper". When we use that dipper to fill other people's buckets - by saying or doing things to increase their positive emotions- we also fill our own bucket. But when we use that dipper to dip from others' buckets - by saying or doing things that decrease their positive emotions - we diminish ourselves.

Like the cup that runneth over, a full bucket gives us a positive outlook and renewed energy. Every drop in that bucket makes us stronger and more optimistic.
But an empty bucket poisons our outlook, saps our energy, and undermines our will. That's why every time someone dips from our bucket, it hurts us.

So it was this idea that inspired our theme for our visiting teaching workshop. We used the theory to evaluate what type of visiting teacher each of us are. Do you leave a drop in your sisters bucket leaving her spiritually uplifted and edified? Or do you overstay your welcome, dumping all of your problems and gossip onto her?

It was a fabulous evening full of food, fun and games. And the decorations turned out quite nicely if I can say so myself. :)

These are the "posters" I displayed around the church the past month.
We then made 45 individual "buckets" (thanks to a mom of triplets who goes through ONE can of formula A DAY!).
The table centerpiece had a grouping of buckets and the poem "I'm just a visiting teacher." Each sister got to choose one of the buckets to take home.
After a get-to-know you game we had the sisters come and "fill their buckets" with lots of goodies (chocolate, cute magnets, "drops" to fill someone's bucket, a laminated, magnetized handout called "the Ten Commandments for Visiting Teachers," and the story of the bucket theory.

It was our first big event as a presidency and it got me really excited to work with them. Now on to Super Saturday.

Oh and by the way.... the book is great for families. It makes you stop and look at the daily interactions you have with your children. I think all too often I am dipping from my kids buckets when I am the one person in their life who should make sure it is overflowing. Just food for thought.

Who said you should never yell at your kids???

I know. Yelling at your kids usually isn't a good thing but this weekend it actually paid off. I woke up Tuesday morning to the dj's on my alarm asking kids to call in and let them hear what and how their mom's yell at them. The prize....four tickets to the BARNUM AND BAILEY CIRCUS. Hallee had been asking to go but I kept telling her we spent all our money in Disneyland so I figured this was her chance.

We started dialing in and as luck would have it we got through! In her best mom impersonation Hallee yelled, "HALLEE! GET OUT OF BED RIGHT NOW!!!" (Which is funny because usually it's "TURN OFF THE DISNEY CHANNEL AND LISTEN TO ME!!!!) Anyway...she won!

We had a blast! We got there just in time for the pre-show and the girls got to take pictures with the clowns, try on circus costumes, and see things up close. During the show Hope kept herself entertained with her Icee, Hallee loved her cotton candy and Caymbree stuffed herself with popcorn...literally. Good times!!!

The Story of US

In honor of our 11th Wedding Anniversary I thought I would take a stroll down memory lane to were it all began... And now, THE STORY OF US.

Fourteen years ago I met an incredibly good looking guy at the gas station in Bear Lake. I was there with my girlfriends, he, with his friends. We fell madly in love and the rest is history. Well, not really. There were a few complications. Neither one of us divulged the fact that we both had significant others at the time. Mine, not such a big of a deal - we were on the verge of breaking up anyway. He, however, had a girlfriend of two years who was all set to wait for him on his mission that he was to leave on in a few months (another slight complication). We hung out all day, I called my mom and told her I found the guy I was going to marry, and then we went our separate ways.

Over the next few months we ran into each other a few times (Fate, I tell ya. He lived in Ogden, I, in Logan.) Finally, twelve days before he left on his mission he called his girlfriend of two years, broke it off, and then called me. And now we can say the rest is history. I think we spent almost every moment of those twelve days together. He left on his mission. I enjoyed my Senior year of high school and went away to college and a year after he returned home we were married for time and all eternity in the Logan Temple. And we lived happily ever after.

Ahhhhhhhhh.........

We just got home from an amazing vacation to CALIFORNIA with the kids. Well two of them anyway. We followed the brilliant advice of some friends to leave Caymbee with Grandma and Grandpa for the week so we could enjoy some stress and diaper free time with Hallee and Hope.

Hope was in true form on the airplane and had anyone within ear shot in stitches. The girl has no concept of a whisper or a quiet voice and entertained everyone with her singing voice, made-up knock-knock jokes, and her new saying, "Say what say WHAT??" As the plane taxied out to the runway she LOUDLY exclaimed, " I didn't want to go on this kind of airplane! I wanted to go in the ones that go in the sky!" Once the airplane started it's incline she exclaimed with a terrified face, "I don't think I'm gonna like this anymore!"

We made it to California without any problems, met up with our friends and headed to the beach. We couldn't get enough of it! Our only regret of the entire trip was that we were only able to fit in ONE day at the beach.


The next few days we crammed in Disneyland, California Adventures and Sea World and a day at the pool. The weather was perfect and the lines were short. Who could ask for more?



And while we missed Caymbree we loved every second we had with Hallee and Hope. Thanks to my mom, Kristie and Mindy for helping out with Caymbree so we could pull it off. We just kept wondering if life with only two kids really was this simple???

FAVORITE VACATION MEMORIES

1) Hope's "Say what say what!"

2) Seeing Hallee put on her brave face and try any and all rides she was tall enough for. We bought her new shoes with two inch hills to give her the extra edge which allowed her to go on everything but Scream'n at California adventures. It took the second go-around to decide she liked Space Mountain but there was no getting her back on Tower of Terror. (I can't blame her. I wouldn't even go on it to begin with :)).

3) Having Steve and Tara (our friends) watch in awe (and a little bit of horror) as Hope downed an entire bag of cotton candy all by herself....TWICE.

4) Hallee and Trinity getting drenched at the Shamu show.

5) Watching Steve, Troy, Hallee and Trinity go on a water ride and come out virtually dry only to have Tara and I go on it and come out dripping wet....TWICE.

6) Seeing the girls rope their dads into paying $15.00 to have their faces painted in Disneyland...suckers!

7) Watching Jovie at each and every meal time. Thanks for the laughs Jov!

8) Being with two other Diet Coke addicts. Only they could appreciate the horror of Seaworld only having Pepsi products.

9) The "spoon" flirting with Steve during the parade.

10) Watching the kids try and pick out their "trinkets" at the souvenir store down the street. Hope picked out hers within a matter of minutes. Hallee stressed and stewed over each and every item. It took her about an hour to decide.