Wednesday, December 17, 2008

It's Snowing!

It's cold, cold, cold! But the kids are having fun. They finally went to school today, after having snow days Monday and Tuesday. Most likely they will be out on Thursday and Friday also. Talk about a long Christmas Break!


Thursday, December 11, 2008

The Annual Christmas Parade

This is for Shailey, Eli, and Isaac. See if you can spot Uncle Ammon on the drums. I'll give you a hint: he carries four drums!



I Love Christmas!

I love this time of year! It always brings back fond childhood memories of family time, decorations, traditions, and presents! Let's face it, as a kid, presents were a BIG part of Christmas! I only hope that I can create fond childhood memories for my children to cherish over the years. I love to decorate the house for Christmas. It always brings a wonderful spirit into the home. I'm including some pictures of decorations, along with pictures of our family room update, mainly for Kim to see since she is down in California.


The Front Porch

The Front Door

An old sled brought over from Ontario, OR
while Mom and Dad served their mission

The Front Table

The Living Room Fireplace

The Christus

Lighted Vases in the Family Room

The Wise Men

The Christmas Village

Ornaments on the Family Room Tree

The updated Family Room

Updated table with paint and architectural detail

The Game Room Snowman Tree

The Tree Top

An additional ornament this year made by Hyrum

The stockings made from second-hand sweaters
and vintage button accessories

Pillow covers made from second-hand sweaters

Sunday, December 7, 2008

My Sister's a Missionary!

Hyrum was assigned to give a talk about missionary work for the children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation. We recorded him giving the talk at home and sent it to Kara so she could enjoy it, too.



Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Hyrum and His Brain

The other day Hyrum came into me and said, "My brain is telling me to play video games." I said, "Well, my brain is telling me that you don't need to play video games." Then he said, "My brain is telling your brain to tell my brain to play video games." I said, "Why don't you go and ask Dad to see what his brain says." He left,
but didn't go and talk to Dad. I guess
he already knew what Dad's brain was going to say!

The Pumpkin Patch

Last night was combined FHE with Brad's family. We went to Herrick's farm and rode the tractor-pulled wagon out to the pumpkin patch. It was a lot of fun and it was such a nice fall day. We bought 63 lbs. of pumpkins which we will carve later.

Ammon chasing Hyrum through the hay maze...can you
spot Hyrum's head?

The hay ride

Ammon just chillin' on the hay ride

Mom and Dad enjoying the ride

Now this is what we came here for!





The Harvest Festival


Last friday we enjoyed the ward's harvest festival. We filled up on chili and cornbread. It was fun to dress up in costumes. This year, Hyrum was a pirate, McKay was Hans Solo, Jesse was a teenager spending time with his girlfriend :-), Ammon showed up briefly, and Monty and I were from Medieval times. It was fun. Most of the costumes were made by repurposing second hand finds. Monty's "leather" breastplate was made from two leather-like jackets. One already had little studs on it that added to the look. I also added some interesting silver pieces I took off of an old sword sheath that was kicking around the house. His chain mail was some nifty bargain fabric from JoAnn's. The main part of my dress was from value village. I dyed it, which made the embroidery really pop out. I added the dark green fabric and sleeve trim. I made a hat with veil to match. McKay's outfit was pieced together from value village. He made the gun himself. Hyrum's shirt was a ladies blouse that I altered to make smaller. When I ironed it, the iron was too hot and it burned a hole in the sleeve cuff. Of well, it just added to the look of a priate! His boots were snow boots covered by the sleeves of one of the jackets used for Monty's costume. They fit perfectly over the boots like they were made for them! His hair is actually t-shirt fabric ripped into strips. It naturally curls and looks like dreadlocks. I stitched it onto the scarve. His vest was cut from a second hand shirt. We also got the hat, scarf, and sword from a second hand store. Even though its a lot of work, I like putting costumes together.



The pirate (complete with dreadlocks) and the knight

The pirate and the fair maiden

The fair maiden with her knight

Hans Solo (with a gun he made himself)




Wednesday, June 18, 2008

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission!





We're so excited to be sending out our first missionary! Kara is preparing everyday through study, prayer, and following the mission rules of going to bed by 10:30pm and getting up at 6:30am. We've been shopping for clothes and shoes. We plan on dropping her off at the MTC on our way home from Disneyland in August. Its all pretty exciting!


Monday, May 12, 2008

Skateboarders!

McKay loves to skateboard and is now teaching Hyrum...check it out!



Monday, March 31, 2008

Apparently....the squirrel did it!




Poor Hyrum. He got sick at church so I had to take him home early. He spent most of the day on the couch with a fever and a bowl nearby (if you know what I mean.) When we talked about him being sick he offered this explanation:

Apparently, there was a squirrel with a coconut. When the squirrel dropped the coconut it cracked open and there was water in it. Hyrum supposedly drank the water and it "dunked" (not sure about that definition!) him in the stomach and made him sick. And if that wasn't enough, he woke up this morning feeling much better because, according to him, he "spit out the beaver." (Translated, that means his fever was gone.)

Anyway, I'm not sure what world he lives in, but it's a happy one! Even when he was sick and was asked, "How are you doing?" His response was, "I'm doing great!"

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Spirit Week at SMS


McKay is really getting into spirit week at school. Monday was wacky hair day and, as you can see from the photo, it was pretty wacky. Jesse helped him put tacky glue in his hair the night before in the style of a faux hawk. He slept in it that night and was already to go as soon as he woke up. Yesterday was business day (McKay dressed in a suit) which, coincidentally, doubled for wearing church clothes to school for the mini-mission this week. Today is "decade" day. McKay wore Dad's letterman's jacket and deck shoes to represent the eighties.

Band Concerts



"The Drumline"
The boys just had their spring concerts. McKay likes playing the bass guitar, but I think he would like more "jazzy" parts. If you really want to hear his musical abilities, check out McKay's original music to the left. (He actually had a recording studio check out his myspace profile and contact him as an "artist of interest" in looking for new talent to sign!) Ammon and Jesse are in drumline and band. Ammon also does jazz band. This video is of the drumline. I was excited to get both boys in the picture at the same time so that I didn't have to go back and forth and miss either one of their parts. Jesse does a great job on the mallets and drums (even a snazzy little hand clapping) and Ammon has some pretty sweet flicks of the drum stick!




"I Got Rhythm"


He Loves to Swim!

Hyrum has just finished up his second session of swim lessons. On the last day of swim class they get to play in the pool—going down the slide, jumping off the diving board into the deep end, etc. He absolutely loves swimming and asks everyday if it is a swimming day.






Check out those muscles!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Youth Snow Trip



















The boys and mom had fun on the youth snow trip. It was a beautiful day at Hoodoo. We spent the day tubing (even mom went a few times), sledding, snowball fighting, and snowman building. The slopes got a lot faster as the day went on. It was great fun!



















Jesse and Eric waiting to toss a few snowballs at unsuspecting passersby.













McKay tossing a snowball.

















Ammon, Becca, and the snowman.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Everybody Wants to Drive

Okay, with Ammon and Kara vying for driving time, I guess Hyrum wanted in on the action also. He got a box the other day and turned it into a car. I have to say I thought it was pretty creative!

Safety First! This is an overhead view of the seat belt.

Good thing he drew a door on the outside so that he could get in and out!

Holding on to the "steering wheel"!

What a driver!

Silly Hyrum

The other night for Family Night, Hyrum was asked what opening song he would like for us to sing. He chose the "Zelda" song...no words, just "instrumental." Here is a video of what it was like. Imagine all of us joining in as we prepared for Family Night!
Also, the other day he came into the office and handed me a sword and said, "Watch...and Learn." He then proceeded to show me several moves which I was to duplicate. Of course, I didn't do them exactly right and he let me know!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Snow Angel

We woke up this morning to a blanket of snow! It was beautiful outside (and warm and toasty inside!) We got ready for church and had fun slipping and sliding on the way there. Of course, Dad likes to add to the slipping and sliding! The bishopric decided to only have Sacrament meeting. As soon as we got home, the kids were digging through the snow clothes and heading outside. We are trying to have a "reverent" snow day, which has included a "reverent" snowball fight in the church parking lot with the Ennis family. Poor Sister Ennis, she got nailed in the back of the head by Ammon. She got him back, though, by coming into the van and putting snow down his neck!

Saturday, January 26, 2008

In the beginning...

This is my first attempt at a "blog" and it is quite the learning experience.  I suppose in time I will get the hang of it.  But for now, I feel like I don't know what the heck I'm doing!  

As for a family update...Kara has a boyfriend, so we see very little of her these days.  She has a cell phone now and has already logged in hundreds, maybe over a thousand text messages.  Maybe I'm old, but I just don't understand the whole concept of wanting to text people.  Isn't it just easier to pick up the phone and talk?  Maybe its just me and the idea of trying see the little buttons and hope that I'm pushing the right ones (since I can never find a pair of glasses to wear!)  I'm always thankful that when I dial someone on my cell phone that the number appears on the screen (large enough for me to see it) before I press "send."  Anyway, she is having fun with everything.  I'm having fun handing her the bills for her dentist appointment, eye exam, etc.  Its nice when they can help to pay their own way!

Ammon is busy with pep band and playing the drums for the upcoming musical (by the way, he says it takes up way too much time and will not be volunteering his services next year!)  He is hoping to get an after school job when the musical is done.  

Jesse just finished a mad dash to get in all his missing assignments before the end of the semester.  We're happy that he made such a valiant effort.  He has taken on the responsibility of getting Hyrum asleep at night.  Its pretty cute to see them asleep on the bed together, although Jesse says he moves around way too much during the night!  


McKay worked hard with Dad and earned enough money to buy yet another guitar.  (The count is now at four!)  He has written and recorded a couple of songs on GarageBand.  If you want to hear them, go to:


He did everything himself!  He is also quite the skateboarder and has spent countless hours learning different tricks.  

The other night, Hyrum sat at the dinner table and there wasn't a place setting in front of him (the place setting was actually in front of the seat next to him) he says, and I quote, "Hey guys!  Somethings wrong here!"  We realized the problem and quickly scooted the place setting over in front of him.  All was well.  He is also into saying the family prayer at night (although, he says they need to be "small").  As he was getting ready to say the prayer the other night, Dad was still talking about the scriptures we had just read.  He leaned over to Dad and put his finger on Dad's lips and said "Shhhh."  Dad quickly stopped talking and Hyrum said a "small" prayer.  He keeps us laughing daily.  

Monty is enjoying the extra time and lower stress since he was released as Bishop.  We quickly memorized the new Bishop's phone number and now direct all necessary phone calls happily to him!  (Actually, Monty enjoyed his time serving as Bishop and would have continued to serve faithfully if the Lord needed him to.)  He has been working to get the work shop put together.  Its going to be a nice shop where I'm sure McKay and I will also spend much time.  Work has been a little slower, but is beginning to pick back up.  He has enjoyed the time off (even though that time has been spent working on the house.)  

I am looking forward to next week being finals week, which means no early-morning seminary to prepare for.  I still love teaching seminary (its been 10 years now) but, I also love the breaks.  I plan on getting a bunch done around the house next week.  Its also time to start planning girls camp and we have a Laurel Retreat/Camp Overnighter planned for next Friday night at our house.  I will probably have to get rid of the boys for the night since we will be invaded by about 20+ teen aged girls!

Life is good!  Even though it is cold and rainy outside and the "band" is over here practicing right now (which means it ain't quiet in our house) I can't complain and am richly blessed!