New Lessons to Learn

I have a new opportunity in our church. For quite awhile now I've been involved in our children's group (Primary), I've led the music and also been an activity day leader (it's like cub scouts for girls) and now I've been asked to teach in our women's organization (Relief Society). I'm a little nervous but it will be a great opportunity to learn and grow. My first lesson is this Sunday, wish me luck. I've also removed the primary helps on the side of my blog and have created a new blog list with some of my sisters newest obsession couponing blogs. I haven't ventured in to it like she has but just maybe I'll give it a try. Let me know if you have any other favorite coupon blogs.

The Inkom Flood

This was a 4th to remember... We had a great morning, enjoyed the parade and time with family. (Happy pictures to follow in a later post.) We went to soda to spend some time with Dustin's dad on his birthday and we got a call from a neighbor saying our street was a river and our home was flooding. There was a freak storm it rained for less then 15 minutes with golf ball sized hail. It caused awful damage farther up the creek and the culvert near our home was just one to be filled up with junk. We hurried home as quickly as possible and these are the pictures after the flood receded. We are so grateful for the wonderful friends and neighbors we have. Luckily we replaced the windows this spring and only one let some water in. We have a little carpet to clean and we'll see what happens with the yard in the days to come. We are really blessed no one was injured and hopefully everyone will sleep well after all of the excitement we had today.

Happy Birthday Week!!!

This week we have 3 birthdays in our immediate family. Sunday would have been Braxton's 13th. I can't believe I'm old enough to have a teenager.

We went to the cemetery with cake and balloons. I was a great day to remember a very special son.

Monday was Dustin's Birthday. He choose to have chocolate cream pie. This is his mom's recipe and it is so yummy. He is an incredible man and I'm so grateful he is a part of my life.





And last but not least. MaKady's 11th birthday was yesterday. She put in some suggestions for what she wanted for a cake and this is what we came up with. It was massive. I joked I was decorating my first wedding cake because it was so big. I got the opportunity to practice the chocolate roses I learned last week, and the daises and name are made with starburst fruit chews. It was a lot of fun to make. I can't believe MaKady is growing up so fast. She is turning into this incredible young woman and I'm really grateful she is a part of our family.

Cookies! Cookies! and more Cookies!

I had an awesome opportunity to get together with a friend from high school, we met up again through facebook. She had posted pictures of the most amazing sugar cookies and I was privileged to go to her home yesterday and have her share some of her serious cookie skills. The roses are all made of chocolate. I can't wait to try these on my own. It was a great day and look forward to doing it again sometime soon. Thanks Mary!

Time Out

I received the most wonderful gift from my amazing husband for mother's day. The chance to not be the mom for the day. He bought me a ticket to "Time Out For Women." It was an amazing Friday & Saturday. The theme for the weekend was Sweet Assurance- The certainty that comes when you know life's truths. We were challenged at the end of the conference to share with those we love and those around us what we know, no matter what. What are the things you know, with out any doubt, no matter what else happens? I know my Husband loves me. I know my kids love me and need me. I know that we will be an eternal family, we have one that is already in Heaven. And I know that even on those days that I don't like myself very much my Heavenly Father still loves me. Take a minute after you read this post and think about what you know, if you like leave a comment I'd love to hear your thoughts.

The Actual beginning of Summer Vacation

The last day of school photo. They have grown so much this last year. I know school's been out since May 21, but in our house the real break didn't begin til yesterday. Yesterday was the beginning of the bookmobile coming, the summer reading program, free lunch started at the park, and the mean mom that I am got the kids workbooks for the summer and the kids started those as well. So yesterday felt like the beginning of our summer routine. I used the free lunch in the park as an incentive for the kids last summer. If they got their things done in the morning we could go to the park and have lunch with their friends. We made it most of the summer. Here's hoping this summer goes as well.

Spring Flowers

I love Spring when everything comes back to life and it's just so green and pretty. These are just a few of the flowers we planted last fall. I think we'll plant more bulbs in the fall it was a lot of fun to watch them come up as the snow melted. I thought I would post these even though we've moved on and planted some summer flowers now. I'll post pictures of those later. Spring is such a hopeful season, don't you think?

Memorial Day

These are a few of the graves we were able to visit this weekend. I really do enjoy the peace we feel when we go to the cemetery. I thought I would post these for those in our family who weren't able to come visit this memorial day, maybe next year.
This is our son Braxton's I can't believe he would be 13 this summer.




These are my dad's, another I can't believe moment...it's been 5 years this summer.



These are our grandparents.




This is our niece Kaili. Her family lives far away and we thought they would enjoy getting to see all of the things that were left in memory of her.


And finally a little family picture these are all of our kids.

It's all gone!

Why is it you don't realize how much hair you actually cut off til you're in the shower the next day and you pour way too much shampoo? Time for a new look. I had 6 inches cut off last night and then decided to try and figure out what my real color just might be. It's kind of a light to medium brown now. I guess I should be grateful that every time I've colored this last 6 months it's come in darker not grayer. So I guess we'll give this color a chance and see how it goes. Maybe brunette can have more fun:-)

Preschool Graduation!

We had the opportunity to be part of a parent ran preschool program this year and it was great! Brock had a wonderful time, mom got to help and Gracie tagged along. The pictures are of some of the kids that were involved this year. We celebrated the end of the year going bowling and to McDonald's. What more could a kid ask for? I can't believe he is heading to kindergarten this fall. Time sure flies when your having fun.