The Year That Blue and Gold Was On Valentines Day

This year the Blue and Gold Pack Meeting was on Valentines Day. Super romantic, I know. Oh well, we still had a great time.

Evelyn and her little friend from her church class, Bailey B.

The theme was Travel thru time. Ryland's den, the Bears, were from the Wild West.

 Sister Warner brought her cotton candy machine. It was a big hit with the kids. Just take a look at Evelyn after she had hers. Oh my! It is all over her face and in her hair. A bath was definitely in order.



FHE: Sunset Sledding

On Monday we decided to surprise the kids with some after school sledding as a part of our Family Home Evening. Nate was still in meetings til about 4:30 pm so we agreed to meet at the hill behind the church. We were hoping to get in a good hour of sledding before the sun went down and it got really cold. It was such a beautiful day. The snow was different from the last time we came here sledding. It was a little powdery and difficult to sled down. However once they got a couple of runs set up it went a little better.

 Once Nate finally arrived the sun was well into setting and we were getting cold. We got in quite a few runs with him though and still had a great time together with all of us there as a family.

At one point Ethan felt like he had strained a muscle some how and needed Nate's help to carry him up the hill. Poor kid.

We then went home and ate dinner and Nate gave a really great lesson to the kids about The First Vision and personal revelation. It was a great night.

Take A Picture: It Will Last Longer

Yesterday I spent the whole morning working on my bedroom. Nothing fun. Not decorating or purchasing decor items for it.

 Just cleaning and organizing. A lot.

I pulled out the furniture, wiped everything down,

vacuumed every inch, cleaned the shutters.  

You name it, I cleaned it.

While I was organizing and cleaning the phrase came to  my mind, "Take a picture, it will last longer." So that is exactly what I did.

My kids harass me sometimes about our room and that it isn't always as clean as we require their rooms to be.

I always counter that I am so busy with the rest of the house and what I need to do for them that my room is at the bottom of the list. Not today.

 I am going through a phase where I don't want matchy-matchy bedding. I am really enjoying just buying pieces that make me happy. I love texture and have a thing for soft fabrics. It really frees me up to just buy what I love. I am finding I am moving more that direction with most things throughout my house. Surrounding myself with things I love and enjoy looking at or using. We shall see what the future brings.
My jewelry box in the corner was recently given to me by my mom. I remember it being in her bedroom most of my childhood. It used to be my Grandmothers as well. I love having pieces in my home that have a familial heritage. Plus, I own a lot of jewelry that needed a home, so win-win.

 I hope to one day get some pretty panels to put on the windows, but haven't found the right ones yet, or the money it will cost to purchase them. Someday. 
I love my little old lady, yellow velvet settee, that sits in my window nook. Not terribly comfortable, but oh so cute to me. The afghan on the back of it was recently made and given to us from Nate's Grandma, Elaine.  She is a woman who I will forever strive to be like. She is one of the most interesting, classy, and spunky ladies, and  she has so much spiritual depth and knowledge. I truly look up to her and love her so very much. Every time I see or touch that blanket I feel that desire in me grow. Love that.

  You might notice all of the empty picture frames in my room. Some day they will have pictures in it. I just haven't gone thru the effort to pick them out and get them printed. Someday.
My bookcase/hutch isn't really styled the way I ultimately want, but I didn't have time to work on it today. Again, bottom of the list.
 Nate bought that for me five years ago for our 10th anniversary. I still love it and look forward to it being in our home for many years to come.

It was funny when the kids walked into my room after school and saw it they kept saying, "Whoa! It is so peaceful in here. I love it. I wish this was my room."  Sorry kids, this is my room and yes, you are right, it is peaceful. It was funny though, however, it also tells you how messy it was. Oh well. It is clean right now and I have the pictures to prove it. ;)

Dad Thinks He Is Ready

My boy is just growing up too fast.

This week is just killing me.

First  his job offer earlier this week and now this.

Nate decided that Ethan was finally old

enough and mature enough to learn how to use the snow blower.

So, yesterday morning he went down and woke Ethan up.

Ethan wasn't terribly thrilled.

But he ultimately warmed up.

Thought it was pretty cool.

My boy is growing up. Sniff sniff...

Photo Shoot Sunday: Eva Kitty Kate 3.5

For today's Photo Shoot Sunday I thought I would pull out some photos from February 2011. Eva Kitty was just 3 1/2 years old. Cannot believe how much she has grown up since then. Little Stink Pot!

Valentines Party 2013

Tonight we had a great time at our friends Amy and Ehren Griffiths Valentines Party. It was a come one, come all kinda party and because of how many people planned on attending they had to move it to the church building. Super fun! We played some Newlywed type games and it was a lot of fun getting to know some of the other couples in the neighborhood. I believe everyone's marriages went home in tact. I wasn't able to get a photo of everyone but I got the majority of them. So much fun laughing with everyone tonight.

 Becky and Doug Langford

 Robert and Vonda Salmon

 Robyn Zito and Amy Griffiths

 Ehren and Amy Griffiths plus their cutie patootie baby girl Charlie

 Bishop Phil and Marcia Gertge

 Michelle Warner, Becky Langford and Diane Walker

 Jeremy and Lauri Baird

 Neil and Tracy Harris

Jeff and Michelle Warner, Heather and Travis Shingleton

Flashback Friday: Dew Tour 2011

For today's Flashback Friday, I thought I would show the pictures from when Ethan was able to go to the Dew Tour at Snowbasin Ski Resort back in February 2011. It was for an Adventure P.E. field work. What a way to spend a school day, eh?

It was super fun watching him ride the mechanical bull. He had a great time on that thing. 

There was a booth for the Army, in it they had a boxing glove that measured how hard you hit it. Ethan had a great time trying it. I on the other hand, not so much. I almost broke my thumb hitting that stinking thing. With three brothers it is a shame I was never taught how to properly throw a punch.

 He had a great day! I think that is obvious.