Saturday was such a beautiful day, and with some nagging and pestering from the kids Jeff and I gave in and took the kids sledding. We had a blast, we even convinced Dalton to go by himself and he did great until he stopped and then fell in the snow trying to get off the sled. The Kids really enjoyed themselves but, I think Jeff and I were pretty tired by the time we were done, that was quite a workout going up and down the hill to help the kids pull the sled up to the top.

Tattoos

Cooper got some temporary tattoos out of a machine at Brads, as Jeff was helping him and Dalton put them on he asked me if these kind of tattoos were okay with Heavenly Father? So I told him "yes, because they were like stickers they only last till you take a shower. So later that night he informed us that he was going to open a tattoo store when he got bigger and he would only put sticker tattoos on people so they wouldn't get in trouble when they went to Heaven! I swear I have know idea were he comes up with this stuff but, I love it. I love my sweet Cooper and I appreciate all the fun he brings into this house. I also didn't have the heart to tell him that cute fuzzy bears and nemo fish aren't exactly the toughest looking tattoos!

Wake up call

Ever since Jeff became a Sheriff's deputy I have always tried to be supportive and not stress over his safety while he's at work but, do to the events that have taken place this week, I have become all to aware of the dangers that go along with Jeff's job. Officer Fox was just making a traffic stop, just like she probably has done hundreds of times before. But, that Tuesday morning it went all wrong. As I watched the t.v. stunned and almost emotionally frozen to my seat, I was painfully aware that my husband was out working during the same time the shooting took place, my husband had made hundreds of traffic stops too. But, I was the lucky one my husband was home and sleeping safely in our bed. Officer Fox's family was in their home grieving and suffering. How my heart brakes for her family and the pain they must be in. It seems so unfair that someone so good and who did so much to help others should be taken this way, were as the horrible man who committed this unspeakable crime now sits in a court room claiming he didn't do it.

I know it is a horrible situation but, it has been awake up call to me, I have decided to make more of the time I have with my family and to make sure they know that I love them and that they are my whole world. I have decide to make sure when Jeff leaves for work that we are not arguing, but instead I make sure I tell him that I love him and I kiss and hug him good bye. I have also decide to be more patient with my children and make sure that I am making a more positive and loving enviroment in our home. This time on earth is a short time and I want to make sure I am doing all I can to make the most of it as well and making sure I am doing all I can to keep us an eternal family. In all honest the only thing that helps me with situations like this is our Heavenly Fathers plan of Salvation and knowing that I will be with my loved ones again!

I am still struggling with the reality of what has happened and I still get nervous when Jeff puts on his uniform and leaves for work but, all I can do is be positive and do a lot of praying!

Disneyland 2009

We try to go to Disneyland every other year with my family, this year my parents took our whole family as our Christmas present. We missed my youngest sister and her family who was unable to come. We had so much fun I think the kids ran my parents ragged and I think Jeff ran our kids ragged. When it comes to Disneyland Jeff suddenly turns into a big kids. I think at one point Kaylee told Jeff she needed a break. Cooper was so excited when he and his cousin Garrett was picked to be part of the Jedi training show, both of them had to fight Darth Vader, Cooper actually feel at one point and the Jedi Master told him his fighting method was unortodox but effective. He is still talking about it. His favorite ride was the new Toy Story Mania, which I think we all loved. Jeff and I became very competitive trying to beat each others score. Kaylee's favorite ride was the Grizzly Rapids, and some how her Dad convinced her to go on the Tower of Terror, she swears she is never going on it again. Dalton's favorite part was the Dumbo ride and Nemo. Jeff and I took him on the Matterhorn and he was not impressed. I had forgotten how jerky that ride was. I enjoyed every part of it I just love being with my family and I especially love being with my kids and seeing them having a good time. There is something magical about Disneyland, my kids get along and they truly are good sports. I think we were in the park every night until at least 11:00, and they were still having a good time. We watched the Fantasma show and Kaylee loved the Princess and the Frog Show on the river boat. When we went to see the movie they were singing the song along with the movie. We had so much fun I don't know if I can wait another two years before we go back.





Our Little Jedi

Christmas Ramblings

I love Christmas and since my kids have started school I always look forward to the fun holiday crafts they bring home. On this day Jeff brought Cooper home from school, I heard the door open and in walked the cutest little reindeer. I laughed cause Cooper insisted on having the brown nose all day.

My mom purchased this little people nativity for my kids a few years ago, and this year Kaylee is determined that the people remain in certain spots (I have not idea were she gets it from). Dalton however is obsessed with it everyday I find him with the baby Jesus and Mary, he tells me their his favorites. However today I found him loading the whole crew up in the the airplane I asked him why he had them in the plane, he responded by telling me, "cuz I don't have horsey." Sure that so obvious, what was I thinking?

Christmas Countdown

I have had a lot of people ask me what my countdown made out of the muffin tin was so here is a picture of it. I got the mini muffin tin at wal-mart for about $5. I cut the numbers, the circles, and squares out on my cricut machine but you could do it easily with just scissors and a ruler. Then I put magnets on the back of the cards to hold it in place on the muffin tin. I had touble finding candy to fit behind the card for each of my kids, so I just put one herseys kiss and a little note to help the kids do something for someone else (like make someones bed without them knowing). Then I let the other kids get a kiss out of the bag that I kept in the cupboard, which I was suprised worked out well as long as the kids get a treat they didn't care were it came from.

The last straw!

For family home evening we talked to the kids about how blessed we are and how we have each other, a warm house, a kitchen full of food and plenty of toys to play with but, there are some kids that might not get a present for Christmas and that we were going to go to the store and each one of them was to pick out a toy that we would pay for and then put in the toys for tots box. They each picked out a great gift and then purchased it and then ran to the big white toys for tots box at the front of the store. I was so impressed with all of them, their was no fussing when I reminded them that we were shopping for someone else, and no one threw a fit when it was time to put the toys in the box. I was so proud of them. If fact Kaylee kept asking me if she made a good choice she wanted to give someone something special. So I asked her if she were to get that toy would she like it? She said that she would have loved it. So then I told her that she made a great choice.

After finishing at the store we returned home and ate a great dinner cooked by Jeff (thanks for the night off honey), and I read the story "The Last Straw." We then talked about how hard it is to always be nice especially to our brothers and sisters but we are a family and that we should always treat each other with love. Then we got out the little mangers that the kids made last year and each child placed a piece of straw in it for the gift they donated. I then talked to the kids about continuing to do good deeds for others and remember to do what Jesus would do. I showed them a count down chart that I had made out of a muffin tin. When they remove the number there is a treat and a little note and on the note it gives them a suggestion to help them do something for someone else so they can keep placing straw in the mangers so the baby Jesus can have a soft bed.

Today was the first day of the count down chart and the kids were at me as soon as they got up so they could do the count down chart, I was so proud they were more excited about the little note and quickly started planning out what they were going to do. I know we just started this but, I truly hope they continue to be excited about this and we find the true Christmas spirit.