Feeling the Christmas Spirit

As many of you know I have a brother named Will. He is the next oldest after me. He is a great guy and can be so sweet. Many years we have asked him what he wants for Christmas where he will reply give the money to the needy or someone who needs it. This year I asked him again what he wanted or needed for Christmas..he finally had a reply. Buy some toys for one of these kids. He sent me a text with ages and gender of the kids. It happened to be a family with 2 boys and 4 girls just like our family.
My sisters and I joined together and started making lists of what we could give them. We spent time hours shopping for this family and it was worth it. Will and his friend Conor went shopping yesterday and spent over 500 dollars for this family in need. I know Will enjoyed every minute of it. Will was even asking kids in the aisle what kind of toys they liked. Will kept saying Christmas is for the kids and they deserve to have something. We don't know the family personally so it was a little hard to shop for clothes for people you have never met, but it felt so good to help someone that needed it.
Last night we gathered all of the things we had bought through out the day and wrapped. It wasn't a ton from our family but it felt good to do it. And the best was that we had got Will a present that made him truly happy. He was like a little kid at Christmas so excited to share and see all the presents. I am so proud of my brother that he would give up his Christmas presents to someone who really needed them. Will amazes me!
Here is a picture of all the presents. The boys even put ribbon around the presents.

Thank you Will and Conor for letting us participate. Merry Christmas to all!
I am especially grateful this season to have a family who loves me, a dad who is recovering from a horrific accident, a missionary brother and wonderful friends and family around.
Make sure you tell and show your loved ones how much they mean to you.

Oh hey October!

Yes I am still alive. I can't believe that we are half way throught October. I haven't been blogging much because I really don't have much to say. Nothing too exciting is going on in my life.
Josh does enter the MTC on Halloween. I am going to miss him so much. Although we don't spend a ton of time together it will be weird not having him around. I am so so excited for him. He wore his suit on Sunday and he looks so grown up. He is going to be a great missionary. I believe Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he set up Josh's leave date...especially since my dad has been unable to do many things. Dad was in the accident on the12th of June and Josh got his call on the 13th. I am so glad my dad is safe and that he has been able to heal.
Will had to have his appendix removed last week. I was visiting the Long's while Will was in surgery so Carter and I made a little video. You have to turn the volume up. And no I didn't bribe him with the halloween cake he already had it. Oops I guess you have to turn your head to watch it...I have no idea how to turn it.

I will try and upload some pictures from Western Legends in Kanab that we went to in August. I love Kanab nothing competes with that place.

A BUSY WEEK

A lot has happened since my Mom's birthday. My dad was in a rollover..he rolled six times. Thankfully, he is only scraped and bruised and a broken leg. I know that Heavenly Father was looking out for him. Josh opened his mission call the next morning. We had breakfast burrito after he opened his call. It was so wonderful to see him surrounded by those who love and support him. He has been called to the serve in the Seoul, Korea Mission.

 He enters the MTC October 31st. I am so excited for him and know he will make a great missionary.
Some highlights of the Zions trip that I just returned from.

• While driving down Becca walked into the Men's Bathroom at a gas station. The Urinals clued her in.
• I blessed a sneezer in the front seat...little did I know it was a drink being opened.
• Swimming in the beautiful pool

• Hiking and taking in the gorgeous scenery of Zion

• Getting to know friends better and making new friends.
• Using muscles I didn't know I had.

• Yummy dutch oven cobblers
• Spending time in the great outdoors....which also helped me get a tan.
• Riding in the car with Morgan, Alex and Becca and changing the names of things.
• Actually using everything I packed and not over packing.
• Mr. Dan Newbold keeping my People magazine modest...ha ha what a funny kid!

• Not a single drop of rain...it always rains at Super Activities.
• This trip also helped me appreciate my bed... ha ha.

This month is such a special one!

Happy Birthday to my mom! She is a wonderful mother and I love her dearly. We celebrated her birthday on Sunday with some cake and ice cream. Aunt Nancy made a delicious chocolate cake and I made cinnamon roll cake. If you havent tried cinnamon roll cake you need to. It is easy and pretty fast.
Today we went to Olive Garden with Grandma JoAnn.
Something very special will be happening tomorrow....Josh will be receiving his mission call. I am so very excited, and a little sad. But Josh said it's not like I am dying just the opposite.
I will continue more later.

May Already?

I can not believe that it is already May. Today was my last day with the preschoolers that come on Monday and Wednesday. I was telling the parents thanks for sharing their kids....and I got a little teary. This school year has gone by so fast. It has been an enjoyable preschool year. I have had to make a few adjustments and somethings I dont like. But for the most part I enjoy my job.
Nothing too exciting going on in my life. Carter turned two in April and he is so adorable.
I did have a fun spring break. We went to Antelope Island,

                                                           View from the Visitor's Center

 Amy and I went to Logan for lunch. We passed the Brigham City Temple.....it's getting closer to being finished.

One day we went to Red Robin with the siblings and Carter, Jameson and Nancy for Carter's birthday.

I was able to watch Carter and J one friday while Nancy went to work.

Grandpa and Grandma took us to Maddox. Carter loved the reception stick! He is a chocolate loving boy!

Just a few more pictures of the cute boy. We did a little shopping and he loves modeling glasses for us.

We spent some time in the back yard. Carter loves to go "side."

Have a wonderful May Day!!!
I am excited to spend more time outside and of course time by the pool!
Is anyone still wondering about JP? Well I will admit after christmas I was a little disappointed, I spent a lot of time talking to him. We haven't really communicated since then and I dont want to talk to him.  I dont see a point in it. I am not interested....he was not what I was expecting. But i did learn from it. Just had to put that out there.

February!!

February is one of my favorite months! I love Valentine's day. Seeing the kids faces light up as they give Valentine's to their friends is priceless. We celebrated V day with a pajama party with pancakes. The kids loved it!!! Nothing else too exciting has been happening in my life. I have been baking a few yummy treats.

                                               Homemade chocolate chip cookies on a Saturday!!

                       Lemon Bars for the Super Bowl. The biggest lemons I have ever seen!!!!

                                                  Yummy sugar cookie from Aunt Nancy
One of my preschoolers gave me a plate of giant strawberries dipped in chocolate. They were delicious.

It is a four day weekend for me and I have three goals. Go see a movie at the theater....it might just be at Kaysville but its still a movie. Any new movies that you have seen that is should go to? Get my eyebrows waxed. My loving grandma and aunt have donated dollars to get them done....yes they are a little out of control but plucking them is not fun and this is so much easier. My other very important goal is sleep in. I am hoping to accomplish this last one because it is so nice to sleep in!!!
 I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!! Do something fun!
Always need a picture of Carter...this is from January I think. Sure do love this kid. He is almost 2!

Just for Jackie

Well I do have one picture but it is at temple square and it looks horrible!
My family seemed fine with JP. Grandma JoAnn thought he was so nice.
We haven't spoken in two weeks...he sent me a text and we chatted for a bit.
At first I was a little bummed that we weren't talking. We went from talking every day to not at all. But as time has gone by I have adjusted just fine and I am happy!
Enjoy your Wednesday!

Yes I am still alive

Sorry everyone....my home computer is broken and I cant blog on my phone.

Highlights of Christmas Break

Spending time with my family

Meeting Jean Paul

Getting to see Natatlie Brown who is far far away in Chicago

Sleeping in

Not having to lesson plan or worry about Preschool

Seeing the lights at Temple Square

                                                                Sure do love this boy!

                                                               He can be such a good kid

Nancy and I have been wanting to make cake pops for months. We finally made some....it definitely was trial and error. I am not good at dipping the balls into the coating. Here are a few pictures of the finished product. 

 I know you want more details about JP but I just dont know what to say. He arrived Christmas Eve and he was so quiet. Conversations were short and pointless. I would say something and he would respond with one word.....That is not helpful.

Tell me what you want to know?

 I have to get back to work...happy tuesday!!

I wore my shirt inside out for the first half an hour of my day....YES I am special!