Craft Projects

Back in May, I found this pattern for a bag. I loved it and thought that it would be great to carry all of my things for church in. I have been looking at it, got the strips sewn, and then left it for two months. The other day I was talking to a friend and she was saying how this year she made a goal to finish all the unfinished projects lying around. This inspired me to pick up the bag and finish it. Tonight I finally did it. It is not exactly how I wanted it to look, but it is much better than the ugly black bag I was using.








The bottom picture is the quilt I made for Guy and Erin's baby boy. I finished this this summer but had yet to post the photo. I decided that it was time to post the photos. This is a quilt that I have been wanting to make for a while. I LOVE the sock monkey fabric. Now if I can just get the quilt made for Dallin that I bought the fabric for when he was 6 months old.

Fall

I love Autumn. It probably has something to do with spending many of my growing up years in the New England area. Nothing compares to a New England fall. The colors are beautiful and there is just a feeling that I can't explain. I still get excited to see the trees change color. I love the cool brisk mornings that turn into comfortable days. The smells of fall are yummy too. Pumpkin pie and apple cobbler. I always crave Boston Brown bread this time of year and a bowl of clam chowder.

This morning as I was coming home from dropping the kids off at school, I was driving down the road and it felt cool. It smelled cool. I saw the kids riding their bikes to school and they had jackets on. I got excited because that means fall is here!

For a quick change of subject, I love our little town. It is still small enough that you can know the people who live near you and have them wave when you drive by. The people are the best and watch out for each other. Since I will probably never have the chance to live in New England again, I am glad I get to live in my little town!

To Do Lists

To do lists, what is it about them that just motivates me? I love them. I can look at a job that needs doing and put it off but once it makes the list I have to get it done. In college I carried around my Franklin planner. Every morning I faithfully filled out my to do list and ordered them. I love it. It gave me a purpose to my day, it gave me order and structure. A couple of years ago I decided that I did not need the list anymore, I could just remember the list and get it finished. Boy was I wrong. Not that things did not get done, just not as much as I would like to have done in a day. Yesterday I created the first list I have made in a long time. It was like welcoming home a long lost friend. I hung it on my fridge and joyously crossed off the tasks as I finished them. It made me happy to see the jobs crossed off. I guess I never grew out of wanting gold star for doing work well and crossing off the job gives me the same thrill I used to get when a paper was returned in school and it had a sticker and the wonderful 100 at the top!

Name Tags

I hate name tags. I know they serve a purpose but I hate them. I feel like a walking Teddy Ruxpin without having to say a word. Also, if I want you to know my name I will tell you and if I want to know yours I'll ask. Do we have to force everyone to know who we are.
Today while procrastinating my homework and house cleaning I saw this name tag and it made me laugh (might have something to do with this being one of my favorite lines in a movie). I think next time I have to wear one of these name tags, this is what I am going to put.

Trip to Boise

Last Sunday, after chrurch, Dallin, Sarah, Elphie, and I went up to Boise to visit my sister Chris and her family. One of the purposes of the week was to learn to can meat. We did and I am excited to eat it with my family. We also pressure canned pinto beans and they turned out wonderful! While Chris and I were busy canning, the kids had a great time playing together. Elphie and Aisa, the dogs, also had a great time together. Dallin and Ethan are beginning to become great friends which makes me so happy. I am glad that they each will have a cousin they enjoy hanging out with when we get together as a family.
Friday night was girls and guys night. Steve took Dallin and Ethan to the father son camp out and they had a great time. Dallin came home very excited that the had roasted hot dogs and made s'mores. He also enjoyed riding the 4 wheeler. Thanks Steve for taking him.
While the boys were camping the girls got a pedicure, went to dinner at Johnny Carinos, and went home to eat junk food and watch Beverly Hills Chauaua(I have no idea how to spell it). IT was soo funny!
Thanks Chris and Steve for a great week. It is always so fun to vist you all.

Chris and Steve bought new couches that are electeric reclinars and have to be plugged in to work. Ethan set his littl piano on the cords and I had to take picture because it made me laugh when I saw it.

Sarah poising for Chris and I while Chris taught me how to use the apature and shutter speed on my camera. Thanks for being so patient Sarah! I am excited that I now know how to use it and will not have to use auto or program any more!

Dallin showing Ethan something on the computer.

Dallin and Ethan plying in the sandbox. Dallin had so much fun playing in the sandbox that I have convienced Richard to build him one in the next week.

The first batch of meat. As you can see in the background we also made ice cream.

Dallin playing on the swing set

Ethan saw me with a camera and posed for me. Soo cute! Miss you guys lots and cannot wait to see you all soon

One of the days there we went swimming. When we got home, Dallin wanted to wear his jammies insead of cloths. He asked for a pickel, went to the couch to watch tv and this is how i found him about 10 minutes later. Swimming can really take it out of you.

Last day of school

The last hour and a half of school I was at Kiersten's graduation. When I returned to my classroom, my board was covered with notes from the students. It is little things like this that make my job all worthwhile. It also makes summer break a little bitter sweet. Just when you get this years class trained as to how you want them be behave in class and in the halls, the school year ends and a new group comes in.

Kiersten's 6th Grade Graduation

On June 5th Kiersten graduated from 6th grade. My little girl is offically a 7th grader now. She will no longer go to school with me every morning. I am going to miss that time with her. Kiersten gave a wonderful speech at the beginning of the graduation. You would never have known that she tends to be shy. She stood up there with great poise and spoke slowly. She was amazing. My video camera died right as she was beginning to talk or I would have posted her speech. She recieved the Hope of America award from the Kawanas and then was presented a diploma. Grandma Ranks came and brought her a beautiful flower lei.

Recieving her Hope of America award

Giving her speech

Walking into the Gym

With her favorite teacher- Terrilynn

Getting ready for the clap out. Each year the 6th graders walk through the hall while all of the classes stand by thier doors and clap for the 6th graders. It is a fun tradition.

May Craft

I have been meaning to post a picture of last months girls craft night. I love how the board looks in my kitchen!

Our Family Memorial Day BBQ/Craft night

Yesterday all the family came over to hangout. The guys and Becca (thanks boys for letting her come. She loved hanging out with all of you.) took off in the early afternoon to watch Terminator. The girls watched the kids and visited with each other and grandma Kidd. When the boys got home, we had a wonderful bbq. Thanks Erin for making your fabulous bean salsa and Drue for making your broccoli salad, they were both yummy. After dinner the girls began their craft! I was excited that we actually made it happen and this is craft month number two. For our craft this month we made magnet boards. Erin came up with the idea and it was a great one. It was soo fun to see how each of us could take the same board and come out with something completly different. They all turned out wonderful. I can't wait to do it again next month!

Becca crating on the computer

Kiersten and Sarah

A Great picture of Guy and Erin

Drue

Parker, he kept running away from grandpa while he tried to take the picture

Shantel working on her board

Kolby and Kenzie playing

Shantel's board

Mickie and AnnaBelle working on her board

I'm one proud mamma

Tonight Richard and I went to the Jr. High to the 9th grade honor awards night. We had no idea what it would be but Becca was invited so away we went. We were so proud of her. She recieved 4 awards for academic excellence and 1 outstanding for her district quartet. Wow!!! Unfortuantly I forgot to take my camera so I have no pictures of tonight. I am soooo proud of her. (have i said that enough?) She amazes me everyday. I am so proud to be her mother and she makes being a mother so easy (well, all my kids do). Keep up the good work Becca. I can't wait to see what you do in High School!

My Crazy World

What was I thinking last year when I decided that getting my masters was a good idea? I think I had a moment of insanity. While, i guess it is probably not my first nor will it be my last, but tonight it is really getting to me. I am trying to write a paper that I really do not what to write, the schools web site is down and I am sitting here wondering what I was thinking. It does not help that this particular class I have just not been able to get into. Educational Finance. I know it is important, and if they would have just given my number to cruch I would have done it easily and been a happy camper ( in another life I thought Iwanted to be an accountant. I have a degree in accounting finished except for a semester but that is another story). I guess that when it comes to finance, theroy just does not float my boat, i want something that actually gives me some examples of what I am going to be expected to do when they put me in a school and tell me I am in charge.
THanks for letting me rant, Next year at this time I am sure I will be posting about how glad I am that I got my masters and that I am almost done.

Funny picture

I saw this motivational poster on another blogg and it made me laugh. That is so me. That is why I am writing this post instead of a paper on educational finance.

The things we do for our kids

Tonight I made pork chops for dinner. Dallin excitedly came in and said, "Oh boy, chicken" when his sisters tried to explain to him what it is, he became upset and said that if it was not chicken he was not going to eat it becasue chicken is his favorite. We called it pc chicken and he ate the whole thing. Meat in our house now has new names so if you are ever at our house at dinner time, let me fill you in....
pork chops=pc chicken
turkey= t chicken
chicken=c chicken

My silly boy and my very creative girls. Good thing they love him so much!

Easter Weekend

This year for Easter we went to Boise and spent it with my sister Chris and her family. We had so much fun and cannot wait to see them again. As per tradition, the kids all got new Easter outfits. We decided that this year we would get Dallin a suit thanks to the great discount we get from Scott Christenson at Mr. Mac in Taylorsville. He looked so cute. When we got home from church, he asked if he could stay in his suit to hunt Easter eggs becuase he looked "Spiffy". I have to agree with him, he does look spiffy.

Dallin's fingers after dying eggs

Dying Easter eggs

Ethan and Chris dying egg

Becca doing what she love to do, Video Games

This is the first of many flowers we made with Chris to decorate her home for Easter. They are made with Paper bags. Thanks for planning a fun craft for the girls Chris!

Chris and Kiersten woring on the flowers.

Sarah beginning her first flower. She loved this activity. She made many flowers over the next few days.

Dallin playing in the backyard.

Dallin and Sarah

Becca and Ethan playing the computer. Ethan loved playing with Becca and she with him.

While the Boys are away the girls with play

Shantel's finished Banner

Tonight Drue, Guy, Jeff, and Richard went to the priesthood session of conference. While they were at conference, Mickie, Shantel, Erin, and I made a banner for spring. We had a lot of fun working while the children played. Sarah did a fabulous job entertaining the little kids playing school. We had so much fun that we have decided to make this a monthly get together. We missed having Karenann with us. Maybe next month

Friday Date Night

Richard got off work early yesterday so he decided that we

should finish getting the carpet out so that it would be ready for spring cleanup. After much hard work, the capet is out of the livingroom. I am very pleased with the results.

Happy Birthday Dallin

Dallin turned 5 on the 28th of March. I can't believe that my little boy is already. It seems like just yesterday he was born. He is growing up to become just an amazing little man. We had a great little family party. Dallin enjoyed spending time with his grandparents. I made him a spider man cake which he loved to look at but would not eat it once the candles were blown out.