Mighty Sword Fight

We had our really good friends The Mayers (Kyle, Shelise, Baby Mayer due in June, Hudson, and Cannon)over for dinner and a sword fight ensued....using foam-like bowling pins. It was so cute to watch Savannah going "Bababababa". Glenn is such a fun dad! What a fun night!

Trouble Maker

Savvy thinks she found herself a little hut..............(if you look close you can see the note cards that she has brought in there with her)

.................and she killed a hydrangea flower.

Fun Moments

I know the picture is fuzzy but I just wanted to remember how much Savannah loves this little magnadoodler. If you notice too she is using her left hand...we still don't know if that is her preferred hand but she uses it a lot! And do you love her little crown band? She puts that on all the time by herself,.
I saw them both here like this and had to get a picture! They are so funny.

Our Gratitude Turkey named BILL

For Family Home Evening tonight we made
Bill, Our Gratitude Turkey.
(we were watching Bill O'Reilly before FHE lol)
Savannah was really upset that we wouldn't let her take off with Bill but we didn't think he would survive. Happy Thanksgiving!! We really are so blessed! We are especially grateful for our little family!

Party Time

Our little friend Owen turned One Years Old!! : ) yay. The kids had fun at his cute little party, well Judah didn't have so much fun right here but the rest of the time he did.
Kensie(Owen's mom) had all the kids come and eat the cake together but only two of the kids were interested, which was a little sad but at least the birthday boy liked it!
Owen got a really cool rocking horse for his birthday so of course Savannah is riding it....(by the way, they both did have real clothes on earlier but we pulled them both down to a onesie so they could eat the cake they didn't want to eat.
The funny part is that she got on and stayed riding like this for like five minutes. She was making everyone laugh and make jokes about how serious of a rider she was and that she was trying to ride as fast as she could.
She finally felt comfortable enough to sit upright on the horse and you can see for yourself the results. Needless to say she is a fan of rocking horses!! : )
Thanks Owen and Kensie for a fun party!

The Holiday Season

First of all you should know that as soon as the first sign of fall hits I start thinking about Christmas Gifts! I don't start listening to Christmas music when it happens, I just start planning and being on the lookout.
But I am one of those people that LOVE the Christmas Season, I really love everything about it! (I know some people don't like the Holiday Season because they think it is too commercialized, maybe I will write about that later but it is enough for me to just say...You get what you put into it and you can't worry about others.)
I love the crispness in the air outside and the wonderful smells and warmth that hits you when you go inside. I love the Christmas Music. I love that it is focused on spending time and making and keeping traditions with family. I love that you get to think about everyone you love and care about and pick something or make something that you hope will bring a smile to their face or a little joy to their day.
This year is a little difficult because we have no money, really! Glenn had to take the summer off from school to study for the LSAT and so we have had a lot less to work with this year than we usually do. It makes it a little difficult to get presents for everyone when your budget is so very limited. But here is the best part, although there are some gifts I wish I was getting for people instead, I am finding ways to do what we can with what we have. I was able to get good enough gifts for everyone on my list, except my parents. There just wasn't any money left. I know that they understand and they never expect anything anyway. (Glenn's parents don't expect anything either, they really are wonderful and amazing but I already have their gifts) I was looking at my pinterest boards today and I finally figured out a fun gift for my mom and a somewhat useful gift for my dad without spending any money. (for those of you who know me really well, you know I have the craziest collection of "stuff" to make things with before I married Glenn) It won't be great, but it is creative and I hope it turns out. My gift for my dad is actually less exciting but I know the thought and effort count for something. I know this is early to be concerned with presents already but when you are making things you have to plan ahead so you have time to get it all done.
As I was thinking about my sort of "scotch tape" Christmas presents for everyone I started thinking that really this is what Christmas is all about...Doing your best to find/make something that, even if it isn't the best present they have received in the whole world, hopefully they know how much thought and care that is put into something for them...that they are loved by Glenn and me. So good luck with your Christmas Shopping out there! And enjoy the true Spirit of Giving.

You are Unique

"No one can have the influence you have been prepared to have on all who come within your sphere of influence......No one can do what you were sent here to do. No one."

Sheri Dew No One Can Take Your Place Pg 195

Sometimes we feel like there is nothing we can do that others couldn't do too, but sometimes God needs things done exactly the way we would do it, not our friend next door, or our amazing sister, or so and so's mom...US! We each have talents and certain skills that are very individual and sometimes God needs us specifically in certain places at certain times, doing and saying certain things. If we haven't always, at least we decide to start. I hope can do what I was sent here to do.

A Father's Joy

Glenn was drinking his glass of water that had been on the table and as he looked in it he found a chocolate chip which I had put in Savannah's mouth 20 minutes earlier! : ) So funny!

Relaxed...

This does not look relaxing to me...
But this does...: )

Sister's Conference

When I got off of my mission I decided I wanted to do a form of Sister's Conference from my mission, which is basically Zone Conference for Girls only...anyway I decided to do one with my family. I live a little far away and so it is not always easy to do them like I want to. So I decided to do one with my friends from my Wymount Ward. It was so fun!!!

I had folders for them with some quotes and papers in them and a place to put all of the handouts we got from the Conference.
We started with an opening song and prayer. Then Nicole started us off with a scripture Moroni 7:47 about Charity~And Shirley shared an awesome Chocolate Zucchini Bread recipe that as she pointed out makes a great breakfast and/or dessert! Then a Fashion segment by Mandy! She even wore a super cute Maxi Skirt she had made for $5! She shared with us some good ideas and ways to "do it yourself".
We made Washer Necklaces for the craft. Marla did a great job showing everybody how to do it!!



Shelise taught us how to make a Pumpkin Tort and seriously it was the BEST pumpkin dessert I have ever had!! I even cheated on my diet to eat some. She makes a great Paula Dean! : )Then Candace shared with us some things she had recently learned and pondered about about the Grace of God that has helped her in her life. Olga shared an inspirational song. Dream Big by Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band. Her story was amazing because she is from Russia and she knows the miracle of dreaming big! coming from a place that has become sort of a trap for those living there and a place with limited opportunities. Being able to come to America and marry the man of her dreams when everyone around her said he didn't exist. She was definitely an inspiration to us all! Robin shared a wonderful book called Beloved Emma and told us of how it helped her in her life overcome a difficult trial and gave her the courage, strength and understanding she needed during a very heartbreaking time.
We then had a lesson by Sarah who helped us try to see ourselves as daughters of God instead of the way the world sees us. She shared some wonderful insights, she has a degree in Psychology or something like that and explained some things to help us keep things in perspective. She shared something specific that I have thought about over and over again since then that has been a huge help for me!

I ended the Conference by encouraging all of us to be great. And to increase our capacity to do good by relying on God and not waiting to be asked to do something to bless others.

It was an amazing Conference!! I am not surprised because of the incredible caliber of those beautiful sisters and friends. It is amazing what we can do! Some have already asked when we can do it again!! The best part is that Aimee couldn't make it but has volunteered to do the next one!! My hope is that these incredible women will continue to influence others in their spheres as they move on and that they will keep this tradition continuing and spreading to others!

Ward Halloween Party

Here's our little Fairy and our Football Player. They did have some fun, even though they don't look like it! : )

Judah Pants

These are Judah's pajama pants, sort of.....They are a little too big so he ends up stepping on them and pulling them off. This is Papa Robbins least favorite style : )
(You may be wondering where the matching shirt is, simple answer he got banana all over it...so we had to substitute. But this picture was too funny not to post.)
This is my cute little Savvy Girl. She is getting so big and she is getting big girl hair, which I love!!

Halloween Ward Party

Our friends Kyrstin and Dan made us take a picture because Glenn was eating his dinner and talking to the guy to the right while I was wrestling both of the kids. To be fair though he really did have at least one of them the whole night too(they were both monsters that night) it was just for a moment that I had both. He didn't even get to eat most of his dinner...
I will have better pictures of their costumes soon! : )