The Mom Song Sung to William Tell Overture with Lyrics

I LOVE THIS!!! thanks to Sasha for the link!

Its Spirit week!!!

The kids have been seriously enjoying spirit week this week!!! Our high school homecoming is tonight so all week the schools have had different things each day to show team spirit! These are pics of crazy hair day!!! They also had crazy sock/hat day, pajama day, nerd day, and Dragon Spirit day/Black and Gold day. I love all this fun stuff. Its fun to see my kids let go of their embarrassment to participate in something fun/funny like this.

On a side note, I took the kids to the eye doctor this week and Sam HAS to wear his glasses ALL the time...I really like this new eye doctor though. The office ladies were friendly, they helped me with insurance stuff, they put up with the kids, and the doctor was considerate and patient. He treated me like he would his own family, and I appreciate that. Its not very often that you find a doctor who has genuine concern for the needs of his patients. It was nice not feeling like I was getting a sales pitch the whole time too.

I also had a lovely time at women's conference. It was nice to get out and be with the sisters in our stake. The conference itself was also wonderful, if you didn't go, you missed out! They talked a lot about families and how it is our role to defend the family, to teach our children and to be faithful. The talk I found very interesting was Barbara Thompson's talk. She isn't married, and has no children of her own, but, she had so much good to say. I know she was inspired. She basically said that Satan is working overtime to destroy the family, and we need to do everything in our power to combat that. She pointed out how forgiving children are and reminded us not to feel guilty about things we may or may not have done. Just ask forgiveness, change your ways and move on. (I needed that) She said do not neglect your family, they are your most precious possession, and strengthening the family is our sacred duty. Julie Beck said we must be strong and immovable in faith, family, and relief. It was the relief part that got to me. We need to take hold of our responsibility to be prepared in all things. She said, "focusing on relief will always bring sociality, whereas sociality will not always bring relief." I think its interesting how the spirit works and prompts us to do certain things at specific times in our lives. I have been particularly concerned with food storage and emergency supplies lately, so if anyone needs help, I can get you started (or at least tell you what to do!!! that's one thing I am good at!!;)
Well, we have General Conference, and Stake conference back to back. Soccer and flag football all day Saturdays, scouts, field trips, and primary stuff (meetings, the sacrament program) and Halloween coming up, and I am going to try to burn 10,000 calories in six weeks (should be fun)!!! Not to mention my current obsession with food storage which translates into canning like a crazy person! So hopefully I will be able to stay on top of it all!!!! and keep you posted!

Jenna the diva

My sweet little girl has turned into a fashion monster. She changes her clothes no less than three times a day, and flat refuses to wear anything I pick out for her. Fortunately, her taste in clothing isn't so awful that I can't stand it. Here he is showing me her boots. She absolutely loves them. She also loves her hairband which she calls a necklace, and she loves ponytails in her hair, which she calls peetoo. She is just chock full of crazy personality! I love this kid.

Ward Campout/Primary Activity

Our ward had a family campout last weekend at Wallace State Park. It was so much fun for my family. The kids and I went without Erinn (he had to work) and just had a ball. The ward put on a nice potluck dinner, and a campfire. We retired a flag...Sam got to participate as a boy scout and that was really cool for him! We let the kids stay up late and play...they had so much fun playing with their friends and running around outside. I love camping!!!! The next morning after breakfast we had our primary activity. It was less organized than I would've liked but, how do you get overly tired kids to suddenly gather and be reverent?!!! Ha Ha Ha...not happening!!! Well, we took them on a scripture hike, which they loved, and told them the parable of the sunflower, then sent them home with the sunflower family home evening kit. Here is a pic of the kids at the activity...aren't they adorable! It was a great time.

From Cub to Scout in 60 seconds!

Sam is a boy scout! He has completed all of his time in cubs and had his final pack meeting last week! I am always amazed at how quick they grow up, and how incredibly fast time actually flies! He earned his webelos badge, his religious knot, and his Arrow of Light ( the highest award a cub scout can earn). He is now an eleven year old scout and I am on the prowl for a scout shirt! If any of you know of discounted scout shirts I would love to hear from you!! I am so proud of my boys! Good job Sam and Noah!

I can't believe he's gotten so grown up!

This is Sam on his very first night as a cub scout!

Noah and his friend Charles earned their bear badges!!

Palo Duro Canyon! Tarantula!!!!

Here is a pic of the tarantula the kids found at Palo Duro Canyon!!! They were all so amazed!!! I've never seen kids so unafraid of a spider in my life! They just thought it was the coolest thing ever!

Here are a few pics of the kids hiking at the canyon! We loved the canyon...it is sooo beautiful! We all loved the hike...the kids ran way ahead, and I tried to stifle my urge to over protect and keep them with me at all times! They had such a great time!

Isn't he the cutest thing? (That would embarrass him so much!!!:)

Palo Duro Canyon, Amarillo, Texas

Texas hugs

We had so much fun in Texas with our cousins! The kids played and played...we talked and sang and had fun! The kids set up a tent in the backyard, they climbed trees, and just had a blast together! Alex cooked his famous burgers and salmon dinners....(on different nights:) soooo good!!! Hillary and I scrapbooked a few pages...who doesn't love that?! Mom found this enormous horse....its true...everything is bigger in Texas! ha ha ha