Arrow Of Light

Proud to announce that Jarom earned his Arrow Of Light Award as a Cub Scout! We are so proud of him for sticking to it and working hard. This award is equivalent to an Eagle Award in the Boy Scouts. In May, Jarom will be an official Boy Scout and begin his journey to become an Eagle Scout.

I was honored to have the Arrow of Light pinned on by my son.

Jarom was the only cub scout of the three, hence he still has his blue shirt on (looking kind of small on him). He received his neckerchief and was welcomed into the BSA.

The three boys being recognized, Alex Duncan, Jarom and Tyler Bake. Presented by Bro. Risinger.

Bro. Mark Lewis does this fantastic reenactment of the story of the Native American named Arrow of Light. Excellent night of honor and service. Great job Jarom!!

Birthday Boy Turns 4!

A big happy boy today! He has been asking for days when it is his birthday...and to say "on Monday"...well that means nothing to him. So finally his big day has come and he can officially hold up those 4 fingers with pride. Happy Birthday to my cute, handsome, big boy!

Friday Ammon had gotten a small package in the mail from Daddy. He was so excited, first of all to get something in the mail that is for him, but secondly that it meant his birthday was that much closer. I was trying to make him wait to open it, but as you can see, he was so curious he got the flashlight out and tried to get a peek inside. He carried that box everywhere...outside, to quiet time and even put it next to the shower when he jumped in. So I only made him wait til the next morning to open it. He loved it. Thanks daddy.



At church, Ammon was excited to know they were going to sing to him in Primary. Being a big Sunbeam, he is learning how fun it is to grow up. They sang to him and gave him a gumball treat. Let's just say they didn't make it home, he ate them all on the way home...



Monday morning Ammon was being bashful...

But he was a big boy and blew out all of his candles.


Later that day we went to Kroger and let him pick out his balloon and open his presents. He loves this train 'ding ding' as he calls it. He takes it with him everywhere. It blinks and the arm goes up and down. Best gift ever! For dinner we went to Steve B's pizza buffet. He only cares about the games and finding tokens on the floors...but he had fun none the less. Later this week we will make a train cake and do a park day with some friends.

Federation Music Festival

This past Saturday was a big day. With Trent already out of town for the past few weeks, I've come to the harsh reality that I'm the only taxi driver to get these kids around to their activities and then if I can...get to my own activities. I was asked to help on the food committee for the Stk Relief Society Women's Conference. This meant some setting up the days before and also making chicken salad mix for the sandwiches...no problem. But I had to be to the Fayette Bldg by 7am Saturday and the kids had a music festival in PTC soon after the conference... Let's just say with the help of Kristin taking Ammon after the conference (THANK YOU!) I was able to attend and the kids were good in a nearby classroom during it...thank you DVD's.

Afterwards, I took the kids for a quick bite and off to the Lutheran Church where the festival was. Tarin and Rae loved the stained glass window. This is a once a year thing where the kids have to memorize 2 piano pieces and perform in front of a judge.



They are critiqued and rated. All 3 were given a superior rating. Great job to them. I am so proud. I think my favorite part was not only did I get to sit in with a judge for an hour as a moderator and hear such talent from many other children, but I got to hear my own kids talk about the amazing talent they saw from other kids their own age and older. I think I saw sparks in their eyes of what they could one day become.

Afterwards...

Pajama Day at Brusters!! Oh yeah, couldn't pass this up...

I sort of used this to my advantage. You know...if you are good we will go get some ice cream...well, let's be honest, I dressed up too. I wanted some...a free waffle cone of ice cream. Wonderful delight! Since it was over 80 degrees, it did melt quickly, so we all needed a change of clothes afterwards, but it was well worth it!!

Leaving A Mark

I have been reminiscing in my mind about all the wonderful things here in GA. I will miss so many things about this place. At least I know we have made our mark. Here are our names in 'brick' at the local YMCA. We have been members here over a decade...sad to terminate our membership, since there isn't one out in Utah. Hopefully these bricks will be here for many years...



Also, I'm proud to say I was a GA voter. But come November I will be a Utah voter...

Pintrest...I know I know...

Yes, I got myself onto pintrest and love it! I have been a good girl and I haven't spent too many days in a row checking it, but I have found some very useful things. First off I found some fun ideas for St. Patrick's day. I'm not a huge holiday celebrator except the big ones of course, and it was my turn for Sunshine School with Ammon's play group. I was in charge of this holiday and I learned how people make traps for leprechauns. Nope, never done it or heard of it...I know where have I been, right? This was all kind of new to me...anyway so I did this and made bags for each of the kids and filled it with candies of gold (chocolate is always golden if you ask me). I had some gold glitter glue and marked each of the bags. I think I had more fun then the kids...

Ammon, Zaden, Gideon, Kyle and Jackson

Next, I had found these mini strawberry cheesecakes! Yummy and so easy! I will spare you the other many many things I have come across, but this was a lot of fun. Happy Pinteresting!

Pride & Prejudice

Sunday afternoon, I decided to break out the most awesome classic ever! It was later in the evening, so we had to finish over a course of several nights afterward...one of those nights I decided to break out the mud mask. It was a lot of fun.

I think Rian really liked the movie. One day, I know she will love it just as much as I. We may argue like sisters, but we also have some great moments together!

not the best pic, but hey, I will take it...

1/2 Marathon -- Round 2

I did it! I'm a crazy person, but I set out to do it, and I did it! I was on the fence because of the whole moving out of state stuff, but I have to admit, Carrie Brown, you are my hero. My sis-in-law is a machine. She didn't know this, but seeing her sign up for a race that meant challenging her world, I knew I could do it too. I'm proud of her and proud of myself for finishing something I started out to do. No regrets!



Because I enjoyed the challenge, I 'dragged' my good friend Melissa to feel the self high this experience can bring! She is truly an amazing person, and I saw all my 'first timer' concerns arise in her and I knew I could be there to help her know...she can do it! We didn't really train together or even run together on race day...only the first mile or so...but to know someone is there with you and wants to do this really makes it that much more fun! I was proud of her for sticking to her pace and blowing her goal time out of the water! I wish I could pack her in my bags and bring her with me to Utah. It was time well spent together. Love you Mel!

The course was just as I remembered it 2 yrs before...pink is the half course. But this year was a bit more...shall we say eventful?! The week before I was watching the weather and knew there were chance of severe weather for that day. Well, night before there were tornado warnings and an emergency broadcast but we stayed positive. 5am at wake up, the weather was still ominous with 71 degrees and thick rain clouds, perfect tornado weather, but we were ready! 7am at the starting line it started to rain right as the cannon went off. What a start! For the first 2 miles it rained pretty steady. Down to a drizzle we hear sirens going off...others kind of looked around and shrugged, we all just kept on going. Finally at mile 4-5 the sirens went off and it was just off and on rain from then on.

My time was a little disappointed. I think I matched my initial time from 2 yrs ago. I'm still waiting for the times to be posted. I hope I beat it even if it was by a few seconds...Because I was in so much pain this go around, the last mile I literally forced myself to run and not stop and finished strong. 2:16 is haunting me...

I really think I will do another race. I love the challenge in the training and the joy in the accomplishment.

It Was Time...

Our little girl came to us in August 2011. She was so small and adorable.


She melted our hearts with her big brown puppy eyes, long floppy ears and strong puppy paws. She truly was a new adventure.

We learned so much from Charlie. She was such a joy to have.

Sad to say that Charlie has found another home. She is a sweetie and loved by all of us, but she has been very difficult for me to manage with trying to sell a house and with images of moving cross country into unfamiliar territory. Obviously there is more to the story, but I want to keep this simple and sweet.

Feeling guilty for several weeks, I decided I need to just do what will save my sanity, so we listed her on Craigslist. Right away several interests, but sadly, people are just unreliable. No shows without any followup. We were so sad. Finally we found someone that said she would take great care of her. We took her over with all the kids and said our good-byes. I still wasn't too sure about this lady since my heart was with Charlie, but I needed to let go.

This morning was tough, no sound of a jingling collar, or claws tapping across the hard wood floors or little puppy eyes peering over the couch arm. Many tears have been shed and we all feel like the house is so much emptier.

The kids have so many fond memories of her her cute wrinkled forehead...

her crazy, fun energy...

her love and excitement when we return home...

But most of all we loved her for her soft, sweet heart.

Ringling Bros & Barnum And Bailey

A neighbor had coupons to the circus making each ticket only $5 each! With the kids out of school for the week, I couldn't think of a better time.

We were a bit high, but hey it was still fun.

Grand opening

The younger kids just loved this and had a great time. The older ones just say it was okay...guess they are growing up, right? I had fun...

Afterward, we ate at the CNN center food court. Figured this will be our last trip to Atlanta and wanted to make it great.

Picture Perfect...Sort of...

So I was walking through the kitchen when I noticed there were 4 deer in our backyard! I would have called my kids, but that would have required some yelling, and these little ladies scare easy...so I just decided to take pictures so I could remember how awesome it was to have such wonderful creatures in my backyard. Guess I caught a personal moment for one of them...it's hard to see all of them, so click on the picture to make it bigger...

These Are The Moments...

This was just another one of those moments I had to capture. With Jarom's challenge to finish the B of Mormon, he's been doing a lot of reading. Ammon, who just adores his big bro climbed up to the table to do the same. Such a heart warming memory.

You Heard Me...

This is a bitter sweet announcement. For the past few months I have been reflecting on this decision. If anything this has helped me to take a look around me and see what I have. I guess you could say I have been counting my blessings...I love Georgia and all that is has to offer (aside from the humidity and bugs). Even took a look at the community of friends at the kids' schools and in their activities. The family here has been so great, I will be sad to leave them. Living here over 11 years has definitely found a place in my heart. But the past year or so has been the hardest for our family. Experiencing the roller coaster of job loss and other contributing factors we are ready to take the leap of faith and cultivate hope that this opportunity will bring a growing future to our family's well being.

Breaking the news to the kids was literally a emotional ride. We did a scavenger hunt with clues leading back to the table with letters to unscramble. Rian was pretty proud of herself that she picked off the hints and figured it out...but then reality set in. The idea of starting over with friends, schools and a whole new culture will be hard. But as we told them, we have prayed about it and as long as we do what is right, the Lord will lead and guide us. It will be a long road, since Trent will start work out there in a few short weeks. The rest of us will follow end of the school year. The kids were sad to hear that news. It will be tough doing this alone, but I know the Lord will be near. So pray for us that our house will sell. I have worked off my back side in repairs and upkeep, since it wasn't on our priority list the past year. Donating to charities, cleaning out air vents, painting walls, repairing sheet rock, wiping down base boards...name it, I've done it. I hope all this work will pay off. We will list the house in a week or so...Pray for a decent sale! Thanks

Building Project

It was my turn for Sunshine School with Ammon and his friends, and I choose the theme of 'Building It'. Well, the 'field trip' was also in my rotation so I had gone to Home Depot and asked for some of their building projects they do with kids. They usually have many left over. Well, it helps to know someone there, Jill Ragland hooked me up with several building kits. Since there were only 3 of these banks, I left them for our kids to put together. So here is what they did.

I can't say it enough how much my kids loved hammering and putting things together. They definitely have my drive with building and creating.

Ammon was in heaven because this was his second project of the week where he got to hammer and help out. Raegan was so sweet to watch.

While Jarom was looking at the plans I caught a moment I see many times over. Ammon just adores his big brother and loves to watch him.

The result. Still needs some paint detail. But these will soon be done. What a afternoon.

Hair Designs

So I've gotten myself onto Pintrest and I've found some great ideas from hair to food to cleaning tips. Here is one hair idea I found. Rian was a good sport.

Being the first time doing this, I didn't realize how much time this SHOULD take...so this was about 9:30pm and bedtime so when we took it out it was too soon. So it wasn't the best result.

I tried it again with Raegan (sorry no pics) and let it sit for several hours and it turned out better, but still not the greatest result. So here is what I learned. Instead of getting the hair REALLY wet...you only dampen the hair. When it is too wet, I could take 24 hours to dry with it all wadded up. Using gel in the damp hair helps to keep it's strength when dry. I will attempt this again soon.