FALL IS HERE AND THE LEAVES ARE BEAUTIFUL

HEAD SHOTS

 I loved the pictures I got of my girls the other day.

I begged my friend to let me do a few headshots of her children.

She said she would love that.

I have realized eyeglasses are difficult and I need some more practice.

But, all in all it turned out well.

I think they are adorable kids.

EDISON likes TELEVISION

 Sierra had the day off on Friday.

They sat and watched a movie with Edison, the cat.

And yes, he sat there like that the whole time.

Sierra loves that cat.

And as you can tell by their expressions the movie was pretty good too.

 

I took the time to whip up another batch of salsa and bottle it.

I have had all these tomatos and peppers left over from the garden that needed to be processed.

Isn't it so beautiful?

And it will be so yummy.

 

SISTER

 Madison calls Sierra, sister.

That's it.

Just sister.

All the time.

 

We went to the farm for a few minutes today.

Collected eggs and played on the tire swing.

 

It is Daddy's Birthday today.

I and Madison took him balloons and cupcakes.

She was so excited.

She picked out his balloons.

They were green because she knows it is his favorite color.

Then she insisted on a camouflage balloon with Happy Birthday written on it.

She literally skipped into his practice.

 

When the ladies asked her what happened to her elbow, she had on a band aid, she wouldn't say.

She typically won't stop talking about it.

She tried to put Edison in the bathtub.

She turned on the water.

He scratched her.

 

We made Daddy a birthday dinner but had to eat without him.

The girls were having melt downs.

I guess I am off to putting them to bed.

He has been so busy lately I don't know if we will see him till 8:00pm.

 

JACK and the BEANSTALK 2ND GRADE PRODUCTION

 My daughter and her classmates put on this sweet production of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Wyatt, Sierra's friend had a solo, he was Jack.

His voice was like an angel.

TRULY!

You may be able to tell from the video's that I didn't get the memo on what my child was suppose to wear. Apparently, she didn't either because usually she is very good at reminding me at least a dozen times.

However, it makes it easy to find her on the video.

This is the taping of the school assemby.

We got her dress right for the performance that night.

Thankfully.

I swear I don't have a brain lately.

SENIOR PORTRAITS GRAND JUNCTION

My dear friend Lily asked me to help her take her son's senior pictures.

Of course I said YES!

I love a good excuse to explore photography more.

He was such a handsome subject.

 

BILLS

Yep, it was that kind of day.

I am glad it's over.

Thanks Emily for talking me through it.



ODD and AWESOME

 ODD: Every morning I come into Sierra and Madison's room and their bed looks like this.

Their little bodies are squished near the top of the bed and their books are all along the bottom.

Sierra looks at books to fall asleep.

Apparently, she needs a lot.

 

AWESOME: I was invited to volunteer to do the Art Heritage program for Sierra's classroom.

We go into the school once a month and learn about an art concept.

Then we teach it to the classroom and do a little art project.

This months topic was African Masks.

I taught the kids that African Masks weren't originally considered art but were used to tell stories.

I encouraged the kids to let their masks tell a story about something happy.

I showed them my mask, not pictured.

I told them my happiest moment was when Sierra was born.

I told them that I felt the sun shone so brighter on that day. The hair of my mask looked like the sun.

I told them the flowers smelt sweeter. I had flowers in my mask's hair.

I told them that I was so happy. My mask had a big grin.

 

Sierra said, her happy moment was when she had long hair in 1st grade. She took raffia and made long strands of hair.

 

Anyway when we were done Sierra said, "Mom, the kids in my class think you are the coolest mom ever because you teach us Art Heritage."

 

Yeah, for awesome.

 



MODESTY is HOTESTY

 Elizabeth's dress wasn't the only one occupying my time.

I had a few other girls that needed alterations.

Luckily, my friend Lily was by my side for the other two.

Lily did a lot of the work on her daughter's dress.

I was getting tired.

But, don't they all look beautiful and modest.

I guess no matter how much work it was it was worth it to see them all so modest and beautiful.

I hope they have a marvelous time.

I am glad this project is over.

LITTLE GIRLS, and EMPTY BOWLS

 Love these two.

I don't make them do their hair on Saturdays.

I think they deserve one day off. They can wear what they want and do their hair how they want.

Sierra said she was going to do hers and Madison's hair.

I was surprised because typically on her day off she doesn't want anyone to touch it, not even herself.

Here it is, the styling of Sierra M.

 

I think she wanted her hair done because she was going to play at Wyatt's house, while I and his mother went to Empty Bowls, a charitable event they do her in the Grand Valley.

Potters donate bowls.

Restaurants donate soup, bread, and juice.

You get to pick out a handmade bowl and eat soup on a crisp fall day for a donation to the Catholic Soup Kitchen. They made 160,000's last year and it helped feed thousands in the Grand Valley.

Another friend of ours bought tickets but couldn't go, so she asked if we could go in her place.

Of course we said, YES.

The line was super long but they had a band playing and it made the wait not so long.

I wish I had of gotten pictures.

Next year.

The bowls were beautiful.

The soup was yummy, especially after waiting in the cold.

They had freshly squeezed apple juice. YUMMY.

BABY BUMP 27 WEEKS

I believe I am in my last tri-mester. If I am not, don't tell me other wise.

I love this little baby boy kicking around inside me. He entertains me at night when I am sitting quietly and reading.

I love to count his little kicks.

 

I got emotional when they announced they were lowering the age of missionaries, because that is one less year I will get to spend with him.

It makes me feel how fleeting every moment is.

I am excited to see him grow and meet his little face for the first time.

I am counting down the days.

 

Three more months little Gunner.



REFASHION HOMECOMING DRESS

Well, one of the sweet girls that babysits my kids and is one of my friends daughters asked if I could help her. She was going to Homecoming and her mom wanted her to wear the dress on the left, which she bought her for her sister's wedding. She hated it and was wondering if we could make it look like the dress on the right, except modest.

We worked on it for about a week and here is her new dress.

With about fifteen dollars in tulle, it was transformed and she is a lot happier with it.

THE STARBURSTS

(Picture rights are owned by MJ Thomas Photography. Please do not copy.)

 Time has flown by and my little Sierra has gone from Kindergarten to First Grade to Second Grade.

 

Making the decision to put her in public school wasn't easy and was never really in my plans.

Those of you that traveled that road with us know how difficult it was.

We finally, and ultimately, came to the conclusion that she would be fine in public schools.

Fine, being the key word.

 

I thought about home schooling her again this summer but decided to send her back instead.

 

I guess the reason behind the decision and the one thing that drives me to to continue to make it every year is that there is an education you receive by being in the public schools that you can't receive any other way.

 

Some of you may giggle knowing the poor standards of some of our public schools, but I am not talking about an education of book learning but of learning to relate to people from all walks of life. Learning how to stand up for yourself when you are being bullied. Learning how to stand boldly for what is right when everyone around you isn't choosing the right. And learning compassion for people who are a lot different from you.

 

I learned all of those things at a young age in the public school system and that education was more priceless to me than any secular learning.

 

Ultimately, the question in my heart was, will she be strong enough to allow these experiences to strengthen her charicter and not diminish it? 

 

And more importantly, will I be strong enough to teach her how to allow these experiences to work toward her good?

 

I concluded that there was only one way.

We must wake up every morning and before she leaves for school I would arm her with her own sword, of sorts, to fight her battles. I am grateful to say, we have.

Every morning before she leaves for school we read the scriptures and pray and every morning I plead before her and my Father-in-Heaven to keep her safe, help her boldly chose the right, and help her find good friends that do the same.

 

There are times when I know I have made the right decision and it was reconfirmed again two days ago.

 

I know that will come as a surprise to some of you as you listen to this story....

 

(Picture rights are owned by MJ Thomas Photography. Please do not copy.)

(Picture rights are owned by MJ Thomas Photography. Please do not copy.)

Two days ago, Sierra came home from school and she said, "Mom, some girls were sitting next to me at luch and said, "If you eat those starbursts, you are going to get fat. If you get fat, you are not going to be apart of our club." She talked about how desperately she wanted to be apart of their club, because, you see, they have beautiful green and blue jewels and you can't hold them if you are not in their club.

 

We had a beautiful talk about boldly standing for what was right. I told her what those girls were saying wasn't right. We talked about this talk given in General Conerence. How even though the jewels were important to her that they weren't worth the price she would have to pay, the price of sucuming to peer pressure.

 

I am grateful to say that she told those girls, "I don't get starbursts that much and I am going to eat them." I am glad she ate them.

 

I am so glad she told me and that she tells me of the experiences she has at school. It is evidence of her trust in me. I am not a perfect mother and I am grateful that she is able to forgive those imperfections and still love and trust me.

 

I am glad she went back to school the next day with a smile on her face and a renewed courage to boldly do the right thing, no matter what.

 

When I watch my child go through these really hard things that administer to her charicater and make her a more whole human being, I realize we have made the right choice and we will continue to make the right choices concerning her future as long as we stay closer to our Father-in-Heaven.



FAMILY for the WEEKEND

 Madison has been begging to go and visit her Grandparents and it just worked out that we were able to take a trip to see them thanks to our sweet friend Kay. She needed us to drive her granddaughter to Utah to spend the weekend with her mom. She filled the car with gas and snacks.
She is such an angel.

 Madison must have said a thousand times. I can't wait to see my grandpa. He will tickle me and throw me on the couch. I am grateful for the special bond my children share with him.

 My kids love their Aunt Karalee.

This is my Grandma Craven's pancake recipe. My Dad said it was the best and I should use it make breakfast Saturday morning. They didn't disappoint. I was really glad to have it. I often wish I had more recipes from my heritage.

 

My girls must have eaten about a trillion apples while we were there. 

 

The best part was sharing conference weekend with my family.

What an inspiring weekend filled with amazing talks and amazing food.

We have a family tradition of making doughnuts every conference.

My little sister made these with a raspberry glaze.

They did not disappoint.

They were amazing.

After a lot of heart wrenching moments...

And several years of tears and prayers...

this girls is pregnant.

I have wanted to scream it for a long time.

I am so excited for her.

It is truly a miracle and an answer to our prayers.

She is having a little girl and is due six weeks after me.

Isn't she the cutest pregnant lady?

I love you sissy.

Best NEWS of the year.



SCORPIONS

 She may have gone scorpion hunting with her daddy last night.

Not sure why they had to bring them home in a jar.

Kind of creeps me out and maybe her a little too.