Adult Halloween Party II

Tom and Heather were the rock'n couple from the 80's.

Jeni and Cade...the nun and the nerd.

Quin and Shanell our couple from the 60's.

Tiffany and Travis...need I say more? Go Cougars!

Berkley and Margo went as Napoleon Dynamite and his girlfriend.

Garrett and I went Gothic. You can't see Garrett's "guy-liner" or all our piercings but they are there!

Greg and Kami were our Cowboy and Nurse. 

Randall...you decide!

Trent and Anne are representing the Taliban.

My kids' first time EVER door-to-door trick-or-treating! They got the concept down really fast and Benton thanked everyone about 14 times as he walked away with a new candy. It was fun to celebrate this holiday with family and friends. We had a great weekend.

Daddy and Adalyn.

Our spooky trick-or-treating cousins with all their loot.

You can help

I would like to reach out to you today and ask for your help with a campaign LDS Philanthropies has set up with the LDS Business College for the month of November. LDS Philanthropies has asked nearly 100 mommy bloggers to begin spreading the word about the necessity of scholarships for single mothers. What I'm asking is if you would go to my friend's blog HERE to read about the project, grab the widget and put it on your blog, and even write a short blurb about the initiative, then contact five of your favorite bloggers and ask them to do the same. If all of us will do this, our reach will be exponential and we can change the lives of scores of women who are struggling to work at jobs which offer no  advancement while caring for their children. We can help give hope and a bright future to these wonderful women!

So here's how you can help. Click the "GIVE" button on the above widget and donate via Paypal or credit card. Even just a little bit helps. A lot helps even more.

Thank you for your support!

Adult Halloween Party

We had our Annual "Young Married's" Halloween Party.

This year we did a progressive dinner by hayride.

It was so much fun.

We started out drinking hot apple cider while being driven to our first stop for potato soup in bread bowls.

The next stop was for taco salad, then on to dessert and games.

We all had a great time.

It is so fun because everyone participates and dresses up!

This year Garrett and I went as Jack and Jill.

Here we have Snooki and Ronnie from Jersey Shore

The personal trainer and his client.

The Cave Man and the Progressive Insurance Sales Women

The Dentist and his patient and the spooky couple.

The Jehovah's witnesses

The football player and the cheerleader

 "A day at the spa." The client and her masseuse.

as of lately...

my kids are being towed around everywhere with me.

i have to plan every detail of my day or these little guys suffer.

that means...

dinner in the crockpot by noon

purse full of snacks and water bottles

diapers

sippy cup

toy cars

blankie

comfy shoes for me

music

paperwork

stroller

plasma car

it has been a crazy fall but very rewarding.

my two little bugs are adjusting well to keeping busy and hardly ever being home.

they are so mild mannered that it works.

the baby is flexible enough to take her naps wherever we have landed at the time.

i cannot believe she will be a year next week!

as for me...i had a crazy...last minute idea to put together a FLASH MOB for the Homecoming pep rally.

i was blessed enough to get plenty of support and have my mob learn the dance in two short days.

tomorrow is the big day.

i will post video footage.

thank you to all who helped me accomplish this HUGE undertaking.

it will be amazing.

Halloween Carnival

This week we had our Annual Halloween Carnival at the Grade School.

This year they had doughnut eating off of the string...face painting...bowling...cake walk...family portraits...costume parades...Gavilan fighting...donkey ridding...fishing pond...Haunted House...trunk-or-treating...and lots of yummy treats

Tori went as a corps cheerleader...

Benton went as a football player...

Alex went as a Disco Diva and wanted to wear her roller skates but I talked her out of it because I knew I would be picking her up all night...even though she is a good little skater.
She won an award for her costume!

She was mad at me in this picture because I made her carry the PINK treat bucket. 

I told her she wasn't allowed to cry because it would smear her make-up...plus she "pinkie-promised" me she wouldn't...so she was trying really hard to hold back tears here.

Adalyn was our little butterfly.

She was the first one to go trunk-or-treating and got pampered all night by the Johnsons.

Happy Halloween!

How to Have your Cake and Eat it Too

Scheduling is very important when raising a family.

I have settled into a nice routine that I love.

My mornings are filled with teaching early bird ballet, and exercise class, household chores, running errands in town, and preparing a hot lunch for my kids.

My afternoons are dedicated to naps with my babies and catching up on correspondence.

Once school lets out I fill my evenings with helping coach the High School Dance Team, homework, more ballet classes, scouts and a sit-down family dinner.

I have my calendar careful planned out so that I can even make room for an occasional visit on a front porch with a close friend or a friendly tennis match with another good friend. 

All the "in-betweens" are filled with changing diapers, wiping noses, reading stories, baking cookies, and helping with art at the Grade School.

I have made it my #1 Rule to be finished from teaching early morning dance by 7:15am in the morning so I can feed my kids a hot breakfast and help them get ready for the day...and also by 5:00pm so we can devote the rest of the evening to each other.

I also have a strict rule that "play-dates" are for weekends only and I really feel this helps me get in enough family time.
I am able to help with so many different activities because I do not have to factor in any sort of commute.
By giving each situation careful thought and prayer, you too can do those things that you find personally fulfilling and not neglect your family at the same time.

I love structure and I believe if you are carefully scheduled you can find time to do it all and not feel too burned out!

I will add that you must also learn when to say NO and really be in tune with the needs of your family first.

I am happy for the opportunity to serve in our small community. 

Nothing helps you more with your spiritual growth than service!

Happy Autumn!

Open doors

This is the time of year when stress is around every corner. It is the harvest. There is crunching of numbers, sleepless nights, over estimating, under estimating, problems crossing the border, dealing with employees, praying for perfect weather, etc.

My husband has been experiencing many of these symptoms.

He is getting heart burn. His blood pressure rises. He gets physically ill.

Yes, the harvest takes a toll on oneself.

The other day I felt inspired to pray for my husband that he would receive the guidance  needed or our family.

This particular day my sweet husband had a financial melt-down.
Just when he was about to reach the end of his rope his older brother called, out of the blue, with a very much needed pep talk.
This brother had no idea, and still has no idea, of the dire strain Garrett was feeling.
Needless to say, this motivational conversation with his brother was just want he needed.
The words of wisdom he received changed the mood of his day and gave him a new hope.
Later that night he got a phone call from a well respected friend who offered him a opportunity to expand his farming abilities and thereby grow his "empire".
I couldn't believe how fast my plea to the Lord was, not only heard, but answered!
We are truly watched over and blessed!