Frosty the Snow Man...

After getting back from St. George we found at least a foot of snow in our yard. So last night for Family night, the girls and I decided to build our own version of Frosty. All the girls had a hand in building him. It was a lot of fun. Blake was happy to see it when he pulled in after work.



Finished Product

The Best Part of My Night (brief nudity)

My favorite part of my day is giving my girls baths. They splash and play and get all clean. I guess its a bonding time for me and a time for me to relax. But if I am to leave the bathroom for any reason Emily thinks she is done. So she'll jump out of the tub and run to wear ever I am. Then I tell her to "Get back in that tub" and she giggles and runs back to the tub. I love it. Sorry I don't have a video of it but I do have Pictures (shocking I know)Here she is coming to find me waiting for me to yell and her to "get back in that tub"and she runs...
..runs..
..Runs..
..and jumps back in the tub. I love it.

This Weekend trip to the South

This last weekend our family did a quick trip down to St. George to visit Grandma LaRae. We left early friday morning and returned Sunday afternoon. Short and Sweet. My pictures are off my cell phone (sorry) Here are the girls at 6:30 am. I was trying to get us on the road to beat the big storm that was headed our way. Lilly is not looking very happy. They are all in Jammies and have their movies in the video player.
It rained right when we pulled in the driveway at Grandmas and didn't stop until late Saturday night. We had to stay inside a lot of the day. Although we did find time to hit the outlet malls. Grandma couldn't get enough of Emily. And Kunka was in great form.Here she is going a little stir crazy. Kept playing with the shower door.
Lilly giving me a kiss.
Gracie and Kunka after tubs
Kunka at Breakfast on Sunday. Grandma Helping Emily with her Breakfast.Grandma and Emily Dancing after Breakfast.
And this is where the other girls were while Kunka was hangin with Grandma.
We had a nice time but when we got home we had at least a foot of snow.

The Greatest Gift

I received an email from a dear friend of mine. He asked a bunch of us to answer two questions. 1st: "What was the greatest gift you have ever received?"
2nd: "Why?"
I didn't even hesitate and I thought I would share with the rest of you the thoughts I sent to Ken.

The greatest gift I ever received was the gift of Forgiveness. I grew up in a very religious family. Always doing the right thing. Never did I drink, do drugs or be immoral. I was always the savior of everyone. I was the good girl, the returned missionary, the Young Woman leader. And yet I never really learned the true meaning of the atonement. I knew about it, I could teach it but never realized the power of it. In my late 20's I started dating a lot, wanting to be loved yet not loving myself. Loosing the spirit until eventually making a poor choice. That once spiritual woman I was, had become the sinner I never thought I would be. The sinner I had helped on my mission, the sinner I prayed for in my youth and the sinner I read about in the scriptures. I was that sinner. I chose the world and everything in it. What I was doing was wrong, I knew it and I was tearing my soul apart. The pain of my guilt was of the most exquisite degree. And then, when I was at the point that I wished the I could become extinct, body and soul a light, growing inside me had come to save me. Wonder Woman I thought I was yet defeated by Satan I had become. From the midst of this self-inflicted damnation, I remembered the teachings of my Father and Mother. I cried out in the anguish of my soul, "O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me" (Alma 36:18) No sooner had I thought this did my soul begin to beat. I knew that the Lord was the only way for me to feel whole again. I knew where to turn for peace I knew I had to return to the blanket of Love that warmed my soul. Scared and humble I gathered myself and return home to the loving arms of my parents. Court was set, punishment announced, and my repentance sure. Nine months I labored (literally) spiritual and physical mending. My pain and guilt were swept away and replaced with the exquisite and sweet joy. The intensity of my repentance caused me to experience a mighty change of heart. I was "born again". Through the miracle of birth and the miracle of Christ and the Atonement I had become whole again. I have married in the temple, sealed to my children and have a strong testimony and understanding of the Atonement. I have Sinned, I have repented and I have been forgiven. The spirit is again in my life and I received a miracle, the miracle of forgiveness.

I hope that we all understand that He is there, waiting to forgive us...waiting to love us..waiting to guide us home.

I'll HAAAVVVEEE Aaaa BBBBLUUUUU....

I heard this song on my way into work this morning and thoughts of my mission came flooding back to me. I have been home 14 years WOW 14 years! And yet is seems like just yesterday. When I hear this song I think of my AWESOME companion Cassie..er... i mean Sister Erickson. I think we listen to this song everyday we were serving together (2 short months). We had a great time...I don't think we were at all productive but we did have some cool and weird experiences. (Hey Cass remember that weird guy? The thought still freaks me out...) I loved my mission. I loved the spirit there. I loved the members and the people I was able to bring to the waters of Baptism. I have lost touch with them..but pray that they have stayed faithful. I love my companions and the things each one taught me. I am grateful I went. And I am happy that a Christmas song can bring back so many wonderful fun memories. ("Help me Help me..won't someone please help me?") Cass, I love you..you are so wonderful. Keep doing what you are doing and never give up. Those I have met and love I owe to my mission. I love you~!

P. S. Happy Birthday Jr.

Busy holiday Weekend

THANKSGIVING-S
We were lucky to have 2 thanksgivings this year. The first one was at my Brother Stevens house. It was very nice but for some reason I only took two stupid pictures. Here we are at one end of the table. Blurry to boot.And here we are at the other end of the table. RuthAnn, Abby and Tember are in this pic. Lame huh? We did have a nice time. My niece who lives in Atlanta was there so that was all worth it.
(no pictures of her..I know lame.)
The next day we had the opportunity of having Blake's brothers over for a Watkins Thanksgiving feast. It was really nice and we had a lot of food left over. Gracie, Lilly and Kunka "helped" me with our turkey.
They decided to name it.
Her name is Tina Turkey.
She had great legs.Here is Gracie touching the turkey ever so dainty.This is her after she touched it. She thought it was cool.A little more confident with the whole hand. funnyHere is Lilly after almost touching Tina.
She wasn't as brave. But that is okay.Kunka, she just loved eating her Chocolate KitKat. Clyde, he just wanted to hide for some reason. Maybe he thought we would serve HIM for dinner. We had a really nice dinner and were glad Troy and Kelly were able to come over. We missed Brittney though. Next time we hope.

GOOOO UTES!!Saturday, The Blessed Holy War between BYU and UTAH was scheduled to play at Noon MST. So our family decided to have a Chili Cook off at my Brother Lance's house. Here is the family watching the BORING game.
Talk about a family divided. Lots of Red and Blue.
My girls in their Ute GearThis is how exciting the game was....Jeff and Jenny with Olivia..I love you guys.Kristi and Kunka. More of the girls. So Cute.
None the less..our beloved Utes Lost to the team down south.
17-10 was the score.
We are still hopeful for next year. We still love our Utes!


Happy Holiday Decorations!
After the upset on Saturday we decided to boost our spirits and do a little Christmas decorating out side. Blake put up the inflatable Santa (we thought was bigger than actual size) inflate Frosty and put up some candy cane lights. I have to say it was pretty festive. The girls, of course, were right in the middle of everything.Here is Lilly hugging our little Santa. They are nearly the same size.See....he isn't very tall at all. But then I guess Santa is an elf right??And here is Frosty. A little bigger.
Kunka didn't like him too much. She didn't want to get too close.She felt safer on the side walk.And it wouldn't be decorating without some Drama.
I don't know what Grace was crying about but it was a big deal to her.Later we went inside and started Decorating. We finished everything Sunday night. It really feels like Christmas. And I guess there is to be some sort of snow this week.Here is our tree. Every year I get new ornaments for my girls. I think we might make them this year who knows.

Santa Claus Is coming TO TOWN

In our adventures this weekend, we happened to run into Santa at the Walmart.
So the girls sat on his lap and told them all their wants and desires.
Lilly wants a doll. (no surprise she wanted a doll - and got one- for her birthday)Kunka wanted this strange man to let go of her..And the Princess wanted a big box of Paints.
Its really starting to feel like Christmas. I am really excited this year. Even though it will be a humble christmas the spirit is still there. How blessed I am to have family and friends so dear.

We support our Troops!!

God Bless the U.S.A

GO UTES!!

O' Christmas Tree O' Christmas Tree....

About a week ago, my dad asked me if I could help him out by decorating a tree at the
Utah Cultural Celebration Center
For the Tree of diversity Exhibit. I said that I would and I am so glad I did. It was really fun to dust off my creativity side of my brain. Sorry the pictures are not the best but you get the ideal. I also had to write a little diddy about the trees. I had the opportunity to decorate two trees. One is a Whimsical tree. Its to depict that Christmas is bright and fun with toys and Santa and all that crap but if you look in the middle of all the ciaos you will find the real reason for the season..baby Jesus. And in the middle of the tree is a little baby Jesus in a manger.
Here is the top of the tree.
The side. And I am sorry for the crappy pics. People were still decorating their trees and there was stuff in front of this tree. But I wanted to get a good enough pic of it.

Here is my little poem of my tree:

The Reason For the Season

As winter starts to gather on the windows late at night

The smells of Christmas in the air is such a huge delight

Children dance around a tree, trimming it high and low

Toys and dolls with shiny ribbon tied up in pretty bows

Santa with his reindeer and his big red sack of toys

Delivering special gifts to all the good little girls and boys.

But, let us stop a moment and reflect on why we cheer

For it’s a humble baby boy that brings the spirit here.

He came to earth so humble, He was meek and He was mild

This is why we celebrate, its the birth of this small child.

He came to save the world from all their doubt and sin

So this Christmas season be sure to Let Him In.

The next tree I did like I said was a doll tree (click on pic to view larger) I put on all the dolls that my dad has given me over the years. Here is the front side. My favorite and very first doll is the pink bean bag baby of 1971. Its near the top next to my moms baby doll.
And you can see my Bride doll I had at my wedding. Its on the floor.

Here is the other side. My moms Baby doll is front and at the top of the tree.
Its the oldest one on there. I love it. Here is my little thing I wrote about the tree:

My Doll Collection

Probably before I can remember,

I had a doll.

Being the only girl in a family of boys,

My dad loved to spoil me with dolls.

A doll was the perfect gift for a little girl.

I remember I would wait with anticipation

Every time my dad would return from some exotic place;

For I knew that there, tucked deep in his suitcase,

Would be a doll, just for me.

My collection is unique.

My first doll is at the top next to my mother’s doll.

There are dolls from Hawaii, the Philippines, China, Australia and Hong Kong.

I have homemade dolls and store bought dolls,

Dolls that cost a lot and ones that cost hardly anything.

But, I love each one because it is from my dad.

Thirty-six years later, Dad still bring me dolls,

But now they are not just for me,

They’re for my daughters to share in the love

My Collection is priceless

Here are my girls. I just love them. I love this time of year. I love the Christmas Season. I know it seams like I have skipped over Thanksgiving but no worries, we'll have that to blog this weekend.