Mother's Day...

Lucas was very thoughtful this year and got me several pairs of pearl earrings (different colors), and a really special letter that made me cry. He also made breakfast, (biscuits, sausage, and eggs, YUM:) I love my husband so much, he is such a wonderful person, I feel very blessed and loved. (I had a Great Mother's Day:)

My mom and mother-in-law gave me a great gift this year for Mother's Day, (pictures of them and my girls:) A month or so ago they took the girls one Saturday for a date with their grandparents:) The girls had a great time, the pictures are from their time at the children's museum. I was so surprised, I loved them:) Thanks Moms:)



Lucas and I have been truly blessed with Great Mothers. They are both so giving, and go out of their way to help us in any way they can, we love them so much and are so thankful to have them so close:) (Our girls love their Grandma Jiggy & Grandma Nea.


I made "Grandma's Garden" pictures for both mothers, they turned out pretty cute.


Grandma Jiggy (Luke's mom) is a traveler, and loves to explore. We found this great book called "Weird Washington" with tons of places to explore in the state of Washington, we can't wait to take some weird trips with grandma:) (I think the picture, although grandma has her eyes closed, is fitting for the Weird Washington pose:)

I hope all you mothers out there felt pampered and blessed on your special day! Happy Mother's Day!:)

Oh No, The Big 3-0!

My 30th birthday was like any other day... it seems that most birthdays after your teens are just that... just another day. I watched a few extra kids most of the day, did some laundry, did the dishes, cleaned the house... We did have Pizza Hut pizza for lunch ("it's my birthday, I want Pizza":)

The evening was to be spent at our friend's, Mary & Andrew McMann's house. (I was told the family party would be on Saturday) So we went to the McMann's, had a nice dinner and chatted. We then were getting ready for Family Home Evening, Rhenley wanted to play something on the piano, Lucas ran outside to get her piano book (which was in the van). Upon returning inside, he had an entourage of people, balloons, and cake following him. I WAS SOOOOO SURPRISED!:)



I received some great gifts: "Afterglow" cd, Movie tickets, Olive Garden gift card, VISA gift card, and a nice skirt/shirt/earrings for church. I felt very spoiled!:)

--I received some great cards this year, this one talks about Stanley reliving his birth every birthday (he's got a plunger on his head, and is pulling pretty hard, it's hysterical)
--Cute laughing cats, HA, Ha, Ha card (being older, more respected, more mature, ha, ha, ha:)

My friend Katie made a delicious strawberry, chocolate, cool whip, vanilla pudding cake... Man, it was so pretty, and so YUMMY!:)
(Be impressed, 30 candles, all blown out in one breath:)

So, although the day was like any other day, the evening was filled with family, friends, good food, and lots of fun:)
Thanks Honey, family, and friends for making my 30th birthday so wonderful:)

Cinco De Mayo Party...

--Our Sweet little Kloee (Tessa & Darren's little girl) I'd say she was the Cinco De Mayo mascot:)
On Saturday May 8th we celebrated Cinco De Mayo with Luke's family. Luke's family loves to Party:) We had some really yummy food, Tamales, Tacos, Tostadas, Rice, Mole Verde, Chips & Salsa etc... we had so much food we ate it for dinner the next night as well:) The entire family brings a dish, but most of the party is prepared by Luke's Mom and sisters, Great job ladies!:)




We had such a fun time with our family! The girls loved the pinata, (Thank you Andi for not putting as much candy in the pinata this year... the little toys were awesome!:)




Our little chica's were simply adorable:)


-- The girls just love their cousins... here they are being crazy:)

May's Theme...

Primary for the month of May:

Theme: "Principles & Ordinances of the Gospel Lead Me to Jesus Christ"
Song: "The Fourth Article of Faith"
Scripture: "We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are; first faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, the laying on of hands for the gift of the holy ghost."
Article of Faith #4

Sharing Time Themes:
Week 1- "My Faith in Jesus Christ is strengthened When I Obey"
Week 2- "I Can Repent"
Week 3- "When I am Baptized I Make a Covenant With God"
Week 4- "When I am Confirmed I Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost"

We are learning about very basic, but very important truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are steps we have to take to be able to return to live with our Heavenly Father & our Savior. It is so important to teach and instill these truths early, I am so thankful for gospel principles that lead me to Jesus Christ!

2010 Primary Theme...

"I Know My Savior Loves Me"

"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." -- Job 19:25

What an amazing theme for these Primary children & their leaders. How blessed we are to know that we are children of God, and that we have a Savior who knows us individually, and loves us!

There is a new song that the Primary children get to learn this year, "I Know My Savior Loves Me". It is an amazing song, (I was a Primary teacher for a few years before March), I got to hear the Primary children when they were first introduced to this song... I was so touched, the spirit was so evident in the children as they sang.

(Verse 1 plus chorus lyrics)
"A long time ago, in a beautiful place, children were gathered round Jesus.
He blessed and taught as they felt of his love, each saw the tears on his face.
The love that he felt for his little ones, I know he feels for me.
I did not touch him or sit on his knee, yet, Jesus is real to me."

"I know he lives, I will follow faithfully, my heart I give to him, I know that my savior loves me."

If you haven't heard this song, you need to look it up... it gives me serious chills, the spirit confirms to me every time the truths in this song, that Jesus is real, he lives, and he loves me:)
(http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,8893-1,00.html) ("I Know My Savior Loves Me", mp3 version, click on it to play:)

Givin' a Shout Out...

To WiddlyTinks.com....
(Scroll to bottom of my blog to see adorable family silhouette:)
They also have super cute countdowns, widgets, photo tinks (digital scrapbooking), new photo cards... Check them out, seriously, lots of cute stuff:)

www.widdlytinks.com or just click on the silhouette at the bottom of my page:)

Back to Primary I go...

I'm feeling very blessed, and know that my Heavenly Father loves me, and has a plan for me and my family. He is aware of my needs, and the desires of my heart. He knows my potential, now it's high time for me to see my potential, and all the things that my Heavenly Father has in store for me.


I was just called in March to be the new Primary President in our Ward. For those who may not be a member of my faith, Primary is the organization in our church for children ages 18 months-11 years old, I have been called to lead the teachers of the classes, and to look over the children in our ward.

The Purpose of Primary is to teach children the gospel of Jesus Christ and help them learn to live it.
The objectives of Primary are to:

*Teach children that they are children of God and that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love them.
*Help children learn to love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
*Help children prepare to be baptized, to receive the Holy Ghost, and to keep their baptismal covenants.
*Help children grow in their understanding of the gospel plan and provide opportunities for them to live gospel principles.
*Help boys prepare to receive the priesthood and be worthy to use this power to bless and serve others.
*Help girls prepare to be righteous young women, understand the blessings of the priesthood and the temple, and serve others

I feel so blessed to be given this calling, to work with the children of the church. I know that many callings in the church are pure inspiration from a higher power. I know I was called by God, as were my counselors & secretary. I am in awe of the women that I get to work with, I truly love them already and know that we have an amazing job a head of us. I'd be lying if I said I was screaming for joy upon receiving the call, to be honest I was very emotional, and didn't feel worthy to be working with these children of God, these sweet spirits. Through much prayer and faith, I knew that the calling was for me at this time, and that I would be greatly blessed.
With God I know I can do anything, all things are possible!

I will be posting periodically about my Primary experiences, things I'm learning, thoughts & feelings, as well as Primary themes, songs, & scriptures.
I want to take everyone back to Primary with me...:)

Jayda's May Interview...

1. What's your favorite breakfast food?
Answer: Cereal
2. What's your favorite type of chips?
Answer: Hot chips
3. Name an animal that lives at the zoo?
Answer: Teddy Bear
4. What did you have for lunch yesterday?
Answer: Sandwich and Banana
5. What's your favorite stuffed animal?
Answer: my stuffed animal cat
6. If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Answer: I want to be a bug
7. What's your favorite thing to do outside?
Answer: Play on the slide
8. What's your Favorite kind of Pizza?
Answer: Pepperoni & Sausa (Sausa, is Sausage:)
9. What color is your bath towel?
Answer: Red
10. Name a Flower that's yellow?
Answer: Um, a pink one

Jodee's May Interview...

1. What's your favorite breakfast food?
Answer: Cereal
2. What's your favorite type of chips?
Answer: Cheetos
3. Name an animal that lives at the zoo?
Answer: Tiger
4. What did you have for lunch yesterday?
Answer: Um, cereal (to which mom replied, "no you didn't":) Jodee: Oh, yea, I had a sandwich then
5. What's your favorite stuffed animal?
Answer: My Catty
6. If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Answer: I'd like to be Word Girl
7. What's your favorite thing to do outside?
Answer: Play in the outside house
8. What's your Favorite kind of Pizza?
Answer: Pepperoni
9. What color is your bath towel?
Answer: Pink
10. Name a Flower that's yellow?
Answer: I don't know what kind of flower it is, it matches my shirt (her shirt happens to be yellow:)

Rhenley's May Interview...

1. What's your favorite breakfast food?
Answer: Cinnamon Toast & Cereal
2. What's your favorite type of chips?
Answer: BBQ
3. Name an animal that lives at the zoo?
Answer: Zebra
4. What did you have for lunch yesterday?
Answer: Cheese Sandwich (bread, miracle whip, and just cheese)
5. What's your favorite stuffed animal?
Answer: My Furreal Friends
6. If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Answer: I'd like to breathe under water
7. What's your favorite thing to do outside?
Answer: Climb a tree
8. What's your Favorite kind of Pizza?
Answer: Canadian Bacon & Pineapple
9. What color is your bath towel?
Answer: We get a different color every time we bath:)
10. Name a Flower that's yellow?
Answer: Sunflower

Kindergarten Musical...

Rhenley had a musical extravaganza at the end of April, the Kindergarten classes sang probably 7 songs, "I'm a Little Teapot",
"B-A-N-A-N-A-S", "Puppies", "Welcome to School", "I Have a Friend", and a few others... Rhenley did such a great job, she knew every word, and every action:) I was so proud of her, brought tears to my eyes to see my little girl up there on stage singing her little heart out:)

--Times like this I wish I had a FABULOUS camera with high quality zooming:)

--I did run up to the front and get this cute picture before the program started:)

Cutest Girls Ever...

in their adorable Easter dresses... KOHL's had a great deal, I was so thrilled, $8.00 a dress:)

--Jayda, Rhenley, Jodee

Easter, Part 4 of 4...

Easter Sunday evening was spent with Luke's family, and many extended family members at Great-Grandpa Gripentog's house (Luke's mom's side of the family:)

-- Aunt Naomi's famous, "Bunny Cake", the kids thought it was pretty special... it was such a shame that we had to cut into it, YUMMY!:)

--Even though Jayda looks possessed, it's still a pretty cute picture with Great-Grandpa (it was the only one I took, so it's good enough:)

THE HUNT... the girls found 16-20 eggs a piece... they had so much fun:)

--Rhenley had very keen eyes, she found some eggs that were really well hidden this year:)

-- Look what I found Daddy... Jodee was so proud, every egg she found, she had to show her dad:)
--Jodee also wasn't afraid to get down and dirty for the eggs..

After the kids hunt, we had the annual "Older kids" hunt, (Lucas' Aunt Helen has done a hunt since Lucas and I were first married for us "older kids"...) This was the first year that Lucas & I were on the same team, the last few years the hunt had gotten pretty competitive, (my team ALWAYS won), so this year, Grandpa changed up the teams:) This year "Our" team won, it was a great feeling... a good time was had by all. (We basically are sent all around the house by clues that Aunt Helen has creatively written, at the end of the hunt is a large garbage bag full of stuffed animals for all the little kids, and candy for us big kids:) (We didn't take pictures of us running around... thank goodness, but here's a picture of the kids at the end getting their stuffed animals:)

Easter, Part 3 of 4... Easter Morning...

--The girls, checking out their baskets... they just woke up...it took a minute for them to get super excited:)
--Checkin' out their easter gifts
--Mommy & Daddy's basket... just what we wanted:)
--The girls got "Alvin & the Chipmunks, the Squeakquel", they were thrilled... thanks for the cheezer Rhen:)
--Jodee loved her new shades... each girl got a very cute pair in their basket

Happy Easter!:)

Easter, Part 2 of 4... Primary Easter Egg Hunt...

My very first activity as Primary President, and I was puking my brains out the night before.... so Luke took the girls and went without me:( Everyone had a great time... no action egg hunting pictures, but Luke took some cute pictures nonetheless:)

(Kyra and her boys were in town for Easter this year, she was a big help and acted on my behalf at the egg hunt... Thanks Kyra for being there and helping:) --Cousins: Brenden, Bronsen, Grandma Nea, and the girls:)

(After the hunt pictures, each child could find just 12 eggs, but the girls seemed pretty satisfied with their finds... they ate ALL the candy in just a few minutes:)
--Rhenley
--Jodee
--Jayda

Thanks to everyone who helped and participated with the Primary activity... can't wait for next year:)

Easter, Part 1 of 4...

--Decorating eggs at Grandma Nea's house with the cousins:)


--Waiting for the egg hunt (the girls, their cousins, and my cousin's little girl... we missed Leslie & her family:()


--Jodee & Jayda finding eggs (I didn't take too many pictures at Grandma Nea's egg hunt, I got preoccupied helping & watching the girls find eggs:)

We are so blessed to have family around! We love spending time with our family, especially around the holidays:)

This post is for Sara:) (now stop harrassing me:..lol:)