~Crafts and Sunshine~

With Spring in Colorado any weather is possible and with Spring Break the end of March it can be pretty crazy weather wise. This morning the weather was pretty cool so the girls worked on many different crafts. We painted, watched movies, went to the library and played games. It is fun doing different crafts and seeing how creative the girls can be. I really enjoy this time with them. The are so much fun to be with.

~Spring Bunny~

Spring Break is always pretty cold and sometimes even snowy! So being such a nice cool day we took Thumper outside to get some fresh air. Jolene let him go in the middle of the yard but he quickly found his way under the boat. It took the girls about 15 minutes before they came and asked for help in catching the bunny. He loved his freedom. We ended up taking Drakes old dog run out to the yard for Thumper to have more room, but boundaries! Jolene loves Thumper and likes to carry him around like a baby. He is a good bunny and seems to enjoy his new temporary home.

~A New Skill~

Now that Jolene is 8 she is working on her Duty to God, lds.org, One of the goals she has chosen was to plan and make a a dinner. She chose to make a calzone with a fruit salad and then mud cups for dessert. She was so excited. We went shopping together and she picked out what she wanted in the calzones, and the fruit for the salad. Then we came home and got busy making dinner. she was able to cut the olives and the fruit for the salad and for some crazy reason she loves to grate the cheese. She did a great job, we had a lot of fun working in the kitchen together. Both of the girls love to be in the kitchen cooking and baking. Her dinner was wonderful! She was pretty excited there would be leftovers for her lunch tomorrow! I am told the dessert was good also!

~Worth~

I have this friend who moved away not to long ago. But before she did she left a very big impression on my life. She shared a part of herself with me one day as we spoke that gave me a new way of thinking. Before she moved she did a triathlon and them blogged about it http://ramandann.blogspot.com. It was great reading about her experience and what she learned about herself. There was a quote I took from her writings to make her this gift. I thought it was perfect for her since she was moving and starting a new journey in her life. When I think about this I really like the line, "I am worth it". I think if I truly believed and lived that, I could do anything! I am trying to live my life better and teaching my girls that they are worth it. They are worth everything they want and need. They are worth all the joy their hearts can hold and more.

~Thumper~

During Spring Break Jolene's class pet, Thumper, needs a home. We volunteered to bring him here for the week. Jolene was so excited, she counted down the whole week for him to come home with her. Saturday she had him inside in a box for most of the day until she thought he would like to live in her doll cradle. She set up the cradle and a "changing" station for him. She is so cute with him, they both seem to be having fun together. It should be a fun week for the two of them. I'm afraid they both will be sad when the break is over and he returns to school.

~Oatmeal Molasses Cookies~

Raychel has gotten into the Dear America books. There are several different books that go through major events in American history. The young girls are about Raychel's age and go through major life changing events and become stronger through their trials and heartache. The back of the books have pictures, newspaper clippings, and historical notes along with recipes. On the website they also go through different games, clothes, hairstyles, crafts, and more recipes for the different eras. Right now she is reading The Diary of Piper Davis, The Fences Between Us, Seattle Washington, 1941. It is about 13 year old Piper Davis as she records in her diary her experiences beginning in December 1941 when her brother joins the Navy, the United States goes to war, she attempts to document her life through photography and her father-the pastor of a Japanese Baptist Church in Seattle-follows his congregants to an Idaho internment camp, taking her along with them. Raychel found this recipe and made it on two separate days to take for class parties. The cookies were a hit!!!

WWII Oatmeal Molasses Cookies

2 c. flour

2 c. oatmeal

1 t. baking soda

1t. baking powder

1 t. salt

1 c. sugar

3/4 c. shortening (can use butter)

2 eggs, beaten

5 T. light molasses

1/2 c. walnuts (optional)

1/2 c. raisins ( optional)

We added 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, oatmeal, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

2. In another large bowl, beat the sugar with the shortening until smooth and creamy; mix in beaten eggs, molasses, and vanilla. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients. Stir in walnuts, raisins or chocolate chips, if desired. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.]

3. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until slightly browned. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire reack to cool completely.

~Sunday Photo~

What a great Sunday!

The weather is pretty cool today. Jolene begged all of us to go outside with her and none of us wanted to because is it cool and windy. Besides we were all enjoying what we were doing inside! Raychel was helping me snip a rag quilt I made for our newest niece due this month, and Ward was just relaxing! Jolene asked Ward to play a game with her so he taught her how to play chess. It was pretty cute listening to her ask question and them when they started playing she would ask him where she should move. He laughed and said it was like playing against himself! What a wonderful daddy!!! They laughed and had a great time playing.

At the end of Sunday School our teacher, Ward, asked the question

"Where is your desire?"

He was asking it to go along with the lesson but it goes with everything we do. Where is our desire, is it in the world or in the gospel? Today our desire was to be with our family. To spend every moment together. All of us were in the same room from the time we got home from church until bedtime. Our weeks are crazy busy, and Sundays are slow, mellow, and so enjoyable together. I desire to be with my family forever!

~March Snow~

You would think after living here for almost 11 years I would be use to the Spring snow we get. But I am not. It snowed off and on most of the day. It really started snowing while I was picking up the girls. We laughed about it and I told them not to worry it wouldn't stick!! Well, it started to stick and measure up!! We headed to bed after 10 and it was still falling. I think it is so beautiful to see everything covered with new white blanket, but not in March! By morning we measured 8 inches on the little kids table in the backyard!! The best part of it that by early afternoon it was gone!! I we are hoping our warm weather will come back and this time STAY!!

~Stuck~

The girls and I have never laughed as hard as we did when we saw the cat stuck between the sliding door and the screen door. Our cat, Ella, is an inside only cat. She tires her hardest to get outside, if she is around when a door comes open she will walk real slowly toward it hoping not to draw any attention her way, she runs to all the open windows and will sit there for a moment them run to the next open window. She loves to sit by the sliding door when the screen is shut. Today the wind was blowing pretty hard which blew our neighbors leaves into and around our yard. Ella was going crazing running back and forth watching the leaves. We were getting ready to leave and I went to shut the sliding door when I saw Ella stuck between the shut screen door and the opened sliding door. She couldn't turn around and when she backed up she couldn't turn her bottom end to come out. It was so funny. She was super mad when we let her out as if it was our fault she was there. I don't think she will try that again anytime soon!!

~Sunday Photo~

                                What a really great day!! 

 We have spent lots of time outside enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.  Spring is teasing us with all the sunshine and warm weather this weekend, if only it were here to stay.   Today after church the girls made a fort under the swing set and had a little picnic.  Watching the girls play together and listening to them tell each other their secrets made me so happy they have each other.  It made me feel so much joy for their relationship and the years and secrets ahead of them to share.  Don't get me wrong, I know they will have their disagreements, but I really believe they will be the very best of friends.  

~Stake Conference~

Today we had Stake Conference for our church, Mormon.org.  One of the councilors in the Stake Presidency asked a question in his talk;  How interested do you think the Lord is in your life?  It made me stop and think, here we are several hours later and I am still thinking about this question.  The speaker went on to say, "He is as interested in my life as I let him."  Which the way to allow Him into my life is through prayer.  Some times it is hard to turn our power over to allow others to help.  We think we are better off to handle our problems, our lives alone.  When are we ever better alone?  Why not turn to our Heavenly Father who knows us better then we know ourselves?  Some times this is an easy thing to do, go to the Lord in pray and ask for the help, and other times we think it is faster, easier to do it alone.  After listening to today's conference I am going to set a goal to allow the Lord into my life more, to turn to the Lord and allow his influence to guide me and help me more.  I know this will probably be a life long goal, but it is a goal worth setting.

~Japan~

This morning all over the news were the devastating details of the worst earthquake to hit Japan, 8.9.  Following the earthquake was a tsunami that swept away cars, homes, and businesses as it touched land. Prime Minister Naoto Kan has said, "Japan is experiencing its greatest hardships since World War II as it tackles the aftermath of an earthquake, tsunami and a growing nuclear crisis."

I know we were glued to the TV in shock of all that country is and will go through.  I couldn't help but look at my little family and cry for the people in Japan who lost their families.  We read in the scriptures of all the turmoil that will come to the world before the second coming of the Lord.  The other day someone asked if all this heartache in the world was going on when we were growing up, I think the answer is yes, but even more so now as we continue to get closer to the second coming.  I can only pray that we are ready, that we are getting our children ready and we are worthy when that time comes.

It was also a relief to hear that all the LDS missionaries serving in that area were safe and accounted for.  I can only imagine how their families must feel to know their children are safe.



~Sidewalk Chalk~

Today was one of the first really nice days. The girls didn't have school so they played outside in the backyard with friends all day. If they weren't here they were at their friends home. It was so nice to have some outside time without being bundled up in jackets!! They all seemed to soak in all the sunshine they could. Both of the girls came in with beautiful little red cheeks. I love the thought of Spring being here, flowers, green grass, longer days, warm weather and bare toes!!

~Band Concert~

Tonight was the Spring Band Concert 5-8th grade. They sounded so good together. After school Raychel was pretty nervous for the last number they were to play. It was new, they didn't have much time to learn it and it was to be performed as the final number with all grades combined. It turned out really well. It was nice to see all the kids on the stage at the same time playing together as one. They should be proud of themselves, I know we were.