DRAPER TEMPLE OPEN HOUSE

Amber, Amber, Abby, Scoshi, Ariana, Jana, Ma'ata, Bret

Mary and Me
On Tuesday February 17th I got to go with the young women from my old ward to the Draper Temple open house. It was so great to see them all again. I do miss them so much but I do keep in touch with most of them by texting. (FYI if you are ever in a youth calling you better learn how to text because that is how you get ahold of them now) I miss being in the young women program but hopefully one day I will get my chance again.
Me, Ma'ata, and Bret Florencia, Alejandra and Friend

After the temple tour the young women came over to my apartment to see it and then I gave a short lesson. I read them the scripture Heleman 5:10 and gave them each a piece of the temple stone and explained how the savior and Heavenly father are our rock and we need to build our foundation upon a "rock". Aaron had been given some pieces of the stone from a friend while working on the temple and we had given them to so many people and I finally got to give them to my young women which I was so excited about and have been looking forward to this night forever.

Valentines Dinner with My Boys

For Valentines Day this year I started a new tradition with my boys that I stole from Trudy. We had a candle light dinner with their favorate thing to eat. Ramon Noodles and candy hearts. Hopefully one day I will get to upgrade to like a steak dinner but it was between ramon noodles and Arby's roast beef sandwhiches this year. They love it. They thought it was pretty cool to drink out of the cool tall glasses with sparkling cidar. I love this tradition because really my boys are the best Valentines I could ever ask for. I love you two.

I also got them both a fun Valentines gift which I have done all their lives but they got to open those at the dinner too and we did some fun Fireworks which was their favorate part and the cheapest part also.

Valentines Day

So for valentines Day this year I had a very cool oppertunity. My neighbor Connie whom has become a very good friend to me and my boys asked if I would take her through the Draper Temple open house on Valentines Day. She isn't LDS so she had never seen inside a temple before so we were both very excited. We had a great time. I think I over did it with her because she was out for like two days after. She said she wasn't used to doing that much in one day but we had a good time together. She is so good to me and my kids. They love her so much and they always go over and hang out with her and always notice if her car is there so they know she is home. Out of all the temples I have been in I think the Draper Temple inside is my all time favorate other than maybe Nauvoo. I loved the colors and all the furniture was so beautiful. If you haven't yet I encourage you to go see it. The open house goes until March 13th I think and is open to everyone.

VALENTINES PARTY AT DEBBIES

My kids are the luckiest kids in the world that they get to go to Debbie Elmer's for Day care. People ask me all the time how I found her and all I say is it was a tender mercy from my father in heaven because she is AMAZING. So for Valentines Day we got a bee in our bonnets to make all the kids valentines boxes. So wednesday for my day off I went over to Debbie's, had noodles for lunch, and we made boxes for all the kids. Yes we made nine of them. Debbie of course had material in her endless supply of craft supplies and so the boys got camo or cowboy and Nikol got beads. We had a ton of fun but dont know if we will do it again next year. It was a lot more work then we thought. So then on Thursday we had the valentines day party. The kids all loved their boxes and they all got to pass out valentines to eachother. Then Debbie had made them all heart shaped sugar cookies to decorate and then we had heart shaped pizza for lunch. We had a great time and the kids love going to Debbie's more than my house most of the time but I love that they love her because it makes it that much easier to go to work and leave my kids with her.

HAPPY 84TH BIRTHDAY GRANDPA

Today, February 15th 2009 would be my grandpa's 84th birthday. I miss him so much and especially lately. I just wish so bad I could talk with him for even just two minutes. When I woke up this morning I was very tempted to miss church and take a drive to Malad to visit his grave and talk to him in spirit on the way. However I knew he would have rather me be at church so that is what I did.

He was a always a great example to me and those around him of unconditionally loving others as thyself and not my their situation. Grandpa I miss you so much and hope I will never disappoint you and know you are watching over me every step of my life right now. I feel your loving presence often. I love you so much and can't wait for the day that I will get to embrace you and live with you again for eternity. Thank you so much for all you ever taught me and for always being such a good example to me. I love you so much and will see you again soon.

Lunch with Dad at his work

I was on my way to take the boys to Kindermusik today and realized I was going to run out of gas. Freaking out that I would stranded with two kids on the freeway I frantically called Aaron to see where he was. He was working at Fashion Place so we hurried over there to get some money from him. He saved our butts. After filling with gas we went back to the mall and Aaron showed the boys all the things he has been doing at Fashion Place mall. They totally ate it all up. They love it when he tells them all about electricity and how it works and they think their dad is a pretty smart guy. Which he is if I do say so my self. Then after showing them around Aaron treated us to some yummy mall food for lunch. The boys favorite is "yummy chicken and rice" from Panda express. They were in Heaven. So even though they were upset that we had to miss Kinder today I think their dad did a good job at making it up to them. They love thier dad so much. Thanks Aaron for being such a good dad to my boys. They love you.

FREE ZOO DAY!

Well what another very busy day off. It started off with the much dreaded yearly women exam. That was first thing in the morning so I could have it done and over with. Then the fun begins. I drove back to Angie's where the boys were and we all got dressed and ready to go to the zoo for free zoo day. Yes it was snowing and pretty cold outside but I was going anyways. Also to make it even funner I offered to help out a friend in need and took their two kids also. So I had Riley and Ciaran both 4 1/2 Cabhan and Cole both 3 1/2 and then Cora who is 8 months. We all piled in Angie's mini van (thanks Ang for letting us borrow the bigger car so we could all go together) and we were off to the zoo. Beckie and Melissa met me there too with their two kids each. Well we had a blast. Yes at first it was snowing and we just basically moved from one building to the next but by the time we were at the bears the kids were shedding their coats and were way hot. We had such a fun day and it was great to see Melissa and Beckie again and their kids. So we had Ciaran, Cabhan, Cady, Connor, Cole, Cora, Riley, Alexa and Gracie. Thats a lot of C names but it was fun. We laughed a lot and the kids played a lot. They were still mostly interested in the snow on the ground and rolling around and playing in that then in most of the animals but its all good because it was free. After the zoo we all piled in the van again and I thought for sure they would all zonk out but no such luck. Then we went back to my apartment so I could get stuff done and the kids all just played it was great. I love kids and had five of my own and most people would say I was crazy for taking five kids under the age of 5 to the zoo and to hang at my house but that is what I love and we had a blast. After all thats what life is all about is having kids and giving service to others and I felt so good inside knowing that I was helping out Angie and Zach and Jodi by taking their kids for a day to help them out. I thank my Heavenly Father everday for the two beautiful spirits he has blessed my life with and hope and pray that I raise them in a way that is pleasing unto him.