Getting Ready For...

VALENTINES DAY!!! I love this holiday mostly for decorating possibilities. So here was mine and my great friend Cindy's fun project for this year (thanks Cindy!!!). I only had one of the middle hearts so I made due with the second wreath. I still think it turned out loverly.
Wreath= piping insulation cut in half and duck taped ($1.68 for 2)
3 different fabrics (valentines is 50% off)
2 different tulle's ($.80 a yard)
2 different burlap ($2.00 for one (I think))
1 heart (4 for a dollar)
buttons for flowers ($3.00)
white paint
mod podge
cricut machine for tags
rosettes - click here, instead of hot gluing the center I just tied a knot and hot glued the end piece to to bottom instead of using felt.
I had zero directions for this so I made it up as I went. I bought 1/2 a yard for all the different fabrics (gives you enough to make two wreaths except for the tulle) and cut each piece 1 3/4 inches wide and 18 inches long. After a while you just eye it and some are a little bigger than others but no one really notices. Everything else is pretty self explanatory if you want to copy. It ended up costing me less than $10 a wreath. Let me know if you have any questions!

Little M's Lovin

For the past little while little M's been showing a lot of lovin. Ever since he learned about his elbow he asks me to kiss them all the time and points them up for me waiting for a kiss. He loves to have me kiss his "hurt"'s, even if he is just pretending. In that case there is always more than one "hurt". He isn't allowed in the kitchen (sharp objects=curious little M) but when we are in there he knows exactly what to do to stay there, he hugs and pats my legs and says, "AWWWW" followed by a sneaky grin but oh how that melts my heart even though I know the reason he is really doing it. If I am sitting on the floor with him and he wants to get up he grabs my hand and says, "up" but of course I demand a big hug and kiss before I get up and he happily delivers. Of course there is always hugs (always followed by an "ahhh") and kisses (always followed by an "mmmmm") all through out the day and night. I sure love that little man of mine

Trip to Moab

(I didn't take this pic but this is more of what it looks like right now)
We just got back from a great weekend trip to Moab. Alan's mom is in town and we always like to go with her to see his grandma and uncle when she is here and stay with them. Mason always loves to be with Alan's mom and its a nice little break for us. How lucky is it that we can go there when ever we want and have a great place to stay! We also got to meet Alan's uncles new wife Marianne. She is so great and beautiful. Mason fell in love with her and loved sitting on her lap while we went to Denny's, which I was super great full for! We are so excited and lucky to have her in our family. We also went to our cousin Jennifer's house were we got to eat pizza, catch up and Mason got to play with his little cousins and he had a blast! He was in no hurry to get home :) We went to the Arches and hiked a little bit around a few of them and on our way home we hit Dead Horse Point. One of my most favorite views in Utah. Absolutely breath taking. I'll have to post some pictures of it tomorrow when I can get it off my phone. If you haven't been there it is well worth the 4 hour drive!!!! Especially if you are going to Moab. I could seriously be there all day. I'm so great full for wonderful loving families. What a blessing. Thanks to everyone who made it so fun!

Oh how I love...

DRY SHAMPOO!!!! I know it sounds lame but just go with me on this one. It is AMAZING! Today I was so tired from being sick (yes this is the 3rd time in 3 months) because I hadn't had much sleep so I didn't wake up in enough time to take a shower, and who really wants to be the family walking in late during church when the Prophet is sitting there by the door? So I pulled out my handy dandy dry shampoo that I got as a sample and a few little sprays and SHABAM! Like magic my hair looked like it did the day before AND it smelled good. Heck yes I am putting this on my list for when I go to the store next! I'm very excited about this new find if you haven't noticed by all the caps. SCORE!

That Great and Spacious Building

Today in Sunday school we were taught about 1 Nephi 8-11. And it was a great lesson. We mostly focused on chapter 8 and the significance of it and what the Tree of Life=love of god, Iron Rod=word of god, the Great and Spacious Building=Pride of the world etc. really mean. If you don't know what I'm referring to check out this link here and read chapter 11 too.
My teacher repeated a great quote from the 1987 conference talk by Elder Glenn L. Pace....
"...let me make it completely clear that the people in that building have absolutely nothing to offer except instant, short-term gratification inescapably connected to long-term sorrow and suffering. The commandments you observe were not given by a dispassionate God to prevent you from having fun, but by a loving Father in Heaven who wants you to be happy while you are living on this earth as well as in the hereafter.

Compare the blessings of living the Word of Wisdom to those available to you if you choose to party with those in the great and spacious building. Compare the joy of intelligent humor and wit to drunken, silly, crude, loud laughter. Compare our faithful young women who still have a blush in their cheeks with those who, having long lost their blush, try to persuade you to join them in their loss. Compare lifting people up to putting people down. Compare the ability to receive personal revelation and direction in your life to being tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. Compare holding the priesthood of God with anything you see going on in that great and spacious building."
What a perfect way to put it. It makes me ache inside for my friends and family that have chosen the instant short gratification over their eternity and their families. I'm so grateful for the happiness that I feel because I know I'm doing the right things. I love Visiting Teaching and the girls I get to go see. I love the power of the Relief society to teach women to lift each other up and support them and work together instead of putting each other down trying to be "better" then others. I love that I have the Prophet of God Thomas S Monson in my ward :) What a sweet blessing it is to see and hear him as often as I do. I am so thankful for the atonement, I don't use it enough. And I'm thankful for all of you who took the time to read this and who care about me and my well being and helped me be who I am. I am a grateful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Please Read This Post

Alicia is an old friend of mine hoping to adopt their 2nd child this year. If you don't know her all you have to do is read her blog to know what a beautiful person she is and a wonderful mother. There little family is searching to fill their eternal family. Please help them if you know of anyone who can help them fill that place in their hearts. You can read their blog at: http://aandw2adopt.blogspot.com/

2011

Some pictures that some what sum up 2011