Tithing Family Night

Last night we did a family night focused on tithing. We had a lesson and showed the kids with pennies how to figure 10%. I also showed the kids how to figure 10% by writing it on paper. After that we made piggy banks out of shoe boxes. Each box had 3 slots - one for tithing, one for savings, and the other for spending. The kids had tons of fun with decorating their boxes and now they want to earn money to put in them!



Below is a picture of the kids with their boxes. Please note that Jacob is wearing boxers, but the photo kinda looks like he wearing nothing. What can I say, he is just like his dad when he sleeps!!

Me and Alexis

Above is a picture of me and Alexis at a mother/daughter activity. I just wanted to post it because I think it is a great picture of both of us. So this is a shout-out to my oldest daughter. She is so much like me (scary, I know!). I love her beautiful singing voice and how she wanders around the house tap dancing. I love her sensitive nature and how spiritual she is. I am blessed every day to be her mother.

Love you Lex!

Spiderman Birthday Cake

I am going through pictures and I wanted to post about the birthday cake I made for Jacob. It was a Spiderman cake and I have to say it turned out pretty cute.

I made 2 9-inch rounds for this. "Spidy" is made out of red M&M's. Jacob loved it AND it tasted good!!

Activity Days

Since I am the Activity Days Leader in my ward I thought that I would start posting what we do for our activities so that maybe others could benefit from what we have done.

Wednesday was an activity focused on modesty.

We started with a runway fashion show. Each girl was asked to come wearing a modest outfit to model for the group. We strung Christmas lights, the big size, on the floor in a large rectangle pattern and then set chairs around it. Each girl walked the runway and then told us why her outfit was modest.

Next, I had cut out tons of pictures of different clothing out of magazines (some I printed off the computer from children's clothing websites). I tried to find movie stars that the girls were interested in (i.e. Miley Sirus, Demi Lovato, Vanessa Hudgens). Each girl was given a bunch of pictures and then got to place them on the chalkboard under the correct symbol, "modest" or "immodest". We talked about how to make an immodest outfit modest by pairing it with a sweater or a shirt under it.

After that we had a relay race. The girls were split up into 2 groups. The first girl in line had to run down to a pile of oversize clothes put them on and answer a question about modesty and then run back to the next girl in line who would put the clothes on and run down to answer a question. The girls were squealing a laughing over this!

Lastly, I made sugar cookies with the letter "M" piped on in green frosting.

I would post more pictures of the activity but I don't want to do it without their parent's permission. But the girls had fun and hopefully learned about how to be modest.

Oh Sweet Goodness!

I have a new favorite kitchen item. For my entire married life, almost 11 years, I have used a handheld mixer to make items such as cookie dough or cake batter. It has worked just fine - I guess. Dusty knew I was wanting something new and voila my wonderful husband decided to buy me a mixmaster and I LOVE IT!!

I have never been able to make a chocolate chip cookie that did not fall flat as a pancake. But I have redeemed myself and I attribute it all to my new mixer.

Thank you Dusty!!

Kristin- remember when Dusty and I were first married and he wanted to buy me a carpet shampooer and you talked him out of it. I still think about that because at the time, I would have been so angry to receive that as a gift. But now, I am loving these types of gifts. Funny stuff!!

By for now.

Happy Mixing!!

Twilight

So, my friend Alison got me into the book series "Twilight" not long ago. She actually asked me to go see the movie with her. I had never even heard of the books, but was just happy to be getting out of the house. So, we go to the movie and I loved it!!

So, I borrowed the first book, Twilight, from my friend Deb and finished it in about a week. Dusty bought me book #2, New Moon, for Valentine's Day and I finished it in one week. Book #3, Eclipse, was finished in 3 days. Yes, I said three days. I couldn't put it down. Last night I finished the 4th book, Breaking Dawn and I have never been more sad and happy all at the same time about a book.

I loved everything about this series. The characters were people that I could relate with; they were lovable, beautiful, funny, and "human" (those of you who have read the books will find my last description funny). Now here comes the sad - Dusty asked me what I am going to do now that I have read the last book and I don't know!! Aarrghh!!! Maybe she will write more about Edward and Bella some day.

If you have not read the series I highly recommend the books. If so, I am sure that you loved them as much as I did.

Now all I have to do is wait for the other books to be made into movies. The first movies comes out on DVD on March 21st and I will be purchasing it.

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Jacob celebrated his 7th birthday last week. I wanted to post a bunch of pictures of him, but I haven't had time to scan the old ones I have of him. I know I won't have time for a couple more days, but wanted to pay tribute to my little man.

Happy birthday to my always helpful, easy-going son. He makes me laugh when he dances to music. His goofy laugh and smile are so contagious. I love how he has a calic that makes him look like he has a bald spot. I love his dark brown deer eyes and how he walks around all the time with his hands in his pockets like a "cool guy".

His personality is just like his dad - reserved, quiet, shy and very, very funny. He is a wonderful student and never gives his teacher problems (thank you!). Whenever I ask him to play with his sister or feed the cat he never complains. He loves science and is always trying to figure out how things work or how they are put together. We are truly blessed to have him in our family.

We love you Jacob!! Happy Birthday!